CARNIVAL SCULPTURES IN ABEOKUTA: A RECONNAISSANCE OF SOCIOPOLITICAL TENDENCIES AMONG THE EGBA YOUTHS

Associated with youth carnivals in conceptualization and function, carnival sculpture in Abeokuta is fast increasing in visual art lexicons. Within thirteen years of practice, the art is now audacious, vigorous and daft in thematic expressions. Though naïve is formalistic, stylistic and technical proficiency, its propensity amongst other social factor and the transient nature of the practice suffice immediate art- historical attention within the contemporary Nigeria art. The study defines carnival sculpture, traces the origin and provenance in Abeokuta. It situates its conceptual basis within the Egba youth social function. Form, style, theme and technique employed in the production of the sculptures were also examined; aimed at good understanding and measurement of developmental factors of the art. Significantly, this study underscores the nature of the art and traits of possible diffusion in Yorubaland scholarly; more so, that indepth academic attention on the carnival sculpture had not been ventured into before.