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| PHOTO CREDIT: ATOYEBI FARUQ |
BY: OLANREWAJU BLESSING DEBORAH AND AYANKUNLE NOFISAT TEMITOPE
THE MEDIUM: PASTEL CHALK
SIZE: 2 BY 3 FIT
ARTIST: CLETUS DORCAS
Culture is the total way of life of people in a given society. Culture is the way people interact within themselves to form a sense of belonginess.
From time being memorial, dance has also been one of the ways to potray one's culture. Through dance, a society is known, and many become acquainted with the people through it, ultimately making it a culture.
Dance has specific uses and meanings. These include rituals, ceremonies like marriage and birth paying respect to ancestors, or simply for enjoyment! Dance is unique to a certain people and their traditions.
Dance in Africa expresses similar feelings, not only of worship but also of social communication: supplication, passionate relational feelings and even transitional life stages, as persons move from one stage of maturity to another. It also communicates virtues, values and even teachings about social manners that are used to help individuals mature and celebrate.
Dance can be seen as a form of communication. It can be more expressive than speaking or writing. It allows members of a community to interact with each other and express themselves.
The structure of a dance can reflect the structure of the community. For example, a dance might separate people into groups according to age, sex, family, or status. This can make these groups stronger.
As well as strengthening the bonds with others, traditional dances can represent ties withancestors. It can help us learn about our culture and our history. This gives us a sense of identity and pride.
The painting as displayed above tells a story of a maiden at the east side dancing to the beats and songs of her culture.
This implies that she is proud of her cultural norms, values, tradition etc, and she is confident enough to express it for all to see through her dancing steps.
EDITED BY: Adebayo Nurudeen
PUBLISHED BY: Mondiu Sherifat Oluwaseun