Abstract
The thrust of this paper is to assess an update of weavers’ technical skills in relation to their woven designs in South-Western Nigeria. Among many traditional handcrafts that feature in Nigerian Art Industry, weaving seems to be the most prominent and the most consistent. Available loom types and accessories as observed in use in many weaving locations in South-Western Nigeria virtually possess identical structures and features. However, technical skill of weavers differs characteristically as are reflected in varied nomenclature of fabric’s textural and structural patterns and designs, with weavers struggling to manipulate the ‘crudity’ of their tools to the technical advantage of the aesthetic appearance of woven designs. Unstructured questionnaires in Likert Scale sample was used for frequency distribution of variables, and the woven fabrics collected from the study area were subjected to visual/aesthetic description referring to appropriate circumstances surrounding production. The need to re-assess weavers’ technical skill in South-Western Nigeria arises because of the changing phases of consumers aesthetic tastes and preferences, and the need to increase production at the speed commensurate to the demand of users. These need-driven values tend to generate spontaneous traditional symbolic designs and motifs suitable to re-awaken socio-cultural consciousness of consumers.
Highlights
The history of weaving in Nigeria is an expanded documentation that has generated requests for re-assessment and update, the weaving industry in SouthWestern Nigeria which was boosted by the presence of the loom and the growth of cotton
Apart from machine cotton purchased in markets, Ekiti and Ondo weavers have been attracted to the use of fabrics synthetic fibres, including tiny shining yarns of metallic colour
The use of shining thread was later adopted by many weavers among Yoruba types of woven fabrics which have been sighted in markets in Abbomey, (Republic of Benin), and as far away as Gambia and Ghana [7, 9]
Summary
The history of weaving in Nigeria is an expanded documentation that has generated requests for re-assessment and update, the weaving industry in SouthWestern Nigeria which was boosted by the presence of the loom and the growth of cotton. Sheds for the sales of woven clothes are so countless, with varieties of fabrics from other parts of Nigeria It is noted by [1, 13] that most weavers in Ekiti and Ondo states copied designs from the ones provided by consumers. Apart from machine cotton purchased in markets, Ekiti and Ondo weavers have been attracted to the use of fabrics synthetic fibres, including tiny shining yarns of metallic colour. This has brought profound changes in the appearance of woven cloths in Ekiti. The use of shining thread was later adopted by many weavers among Yoruba types of woven fabrics which have been sighted in markets in Abbomey, (Republic of Benin), and as far away as Gambia and Ghana [7, 9]
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