CHAPTER 15 : THE PRESERVATION OF FOLK TRADITION FOR EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

In the pursuit of education in contemporary Nigeria, the drive of stakeholders is moving drastically towards the development of science and technology with very little for arts education. Government policies as well as societal beliefs continue to encourage technological and scientific promotion more than artistic empowerment. This development to a very large extent is belittling this area of endeavour in several ways despite different opportunities locked within it and feasible feats it has achieved for the nation. One of the fast-fading cultures of the people within the nation is the folk tradition, this is due to the growing and intimidating modernity. Folklore, folk tale, folk music, folk dance and different folk traditions establish a people in distinct and dynamic ways from other people on earth. Unfortunately, many of these folk traditions, to a large extent are fast fading away and becoming non-existent as the tradition of science and technology is taking over. This paper, through a general survey, found out that Nigeria has huge resources of folk traditions in her multi-ethnicity and the folk traditions are useful for education and many other benefits, so, it should be geared towards the preservation of the folk traditions for the benefit of education and development of the Nigerian people in the modern world. The study, therefore, recommends that steps should be taken to actively preserve the folk traditions through our education to promote artistic empowerment in Nigeria.

Keywords: Nigerian education, Contemporary Nigeria, Folk tradition and its preservation and artistic empowerment.