Explore the Great Nigerian Contemporary Artists Cultural and Creative Arts JSS 3 First Term Lesson Notes Week 5

Lesson Plan: Nigerian Contemporary Artists

Subject: Cultural and Creative Arts
Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 5 (2nd Period)
Age: 13–14 years
Topic: Nigerian Contemporary Artists
Sub-topic: Names, Dates of Birth, and Areas of Specialization
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. List at least 5 Nigerian contemporary artists with their dates of birth and areas of specialization.
2. Explain the contributions of these artists to Nigerian art.
3. Identify the unique artistic styles of selected Nigerian contemporary artists.

Keywords:

• Contemporary
• Art
• Specialization
• Artist
• Nigeria
• Contributions

Set Induction:

The teacher will display images of artworks by various Nigerian contemporary artists and ask: “Can you guess which artist created these pieces? What do you think makes each work unique?” This activity will pique students’ interest in the artists behind these artworks.

Entry Behaviour:

Students have previously learned about the characteristics of Nigerian contemporary art and how it reflects modern themes and ideas. They are familiar with the basic definition of contemporary art.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• Projected images of artworks by Nigerian contemporary artists.
• Handouts with brief biographies of selected artists.
• Chart showing the birth dates and areas of specialization of the artists.

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:

The teacher will connect this lesson to the previous one, reminding students that Nigerian contemporary art is a blend of traditional and modern themes. The focus now will be on the individual artists and their contributions to the art world.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Critical thinking
• Creativity
• Cultural awareness
• Communication

Learning Materials:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work for Cultural and Creative Arts
• Art journals featuring Nigerian artists
• Multimedia presentation of selected artists’ works

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• Nigerian Artists: A History by Uche Okeke
• The Masters of Nigerian Art by Ola Oloidi

Instructional Materials:

• Projector or laptop for showing images of the artworks
• Printed biographies of the artists
• Reference textbooks for further reading

Content:

1. Names of Nigerian Contemporary Artists, Dates of Birth, and Areas of Specialization:
   • Chief Aina Onabolu (1882–1963): A pioneer of modern Nigerian art, specialized in portraiture and watercolour. He is known as the father of contemporary art in Nigeria.
   • Akinola Lasekan (1916–1972): A major figure in Nigerian contemporary art, known for his works in painting and political cartoons.
   • Akeredolu Justus (1915–1984): Specialized in sculpture and wood carving, contributing greatly to Nigerian art through his innovative approach to traditional forms.
   • Bruce Onobrakpeya (1932–present): Renowned for his printmaking and deep etching, Onobrakpeya is a leading figure in modern Nigerian art.
   • Ben Enwonwu (1917–1994): One of Nigeria’s most famous sculptors and painters, known for works that blend traditional African art with modern influences.
   • El Anatsui (1944–present): Specialized in large-scale sculptures using recycled materials like bottle caps, Anatsui is internationally recognized.
   • Yusuf Grillo (1934–2021): A Nigerian painter known for his works that blend Yoruba traditions with modernist principles.
2. Contributions of Nigerian Contemporary Artists:
   • These artists helped establish Nigerian contemporary art on the global stage.
   • They introduced new forms of expression that blended African traditions with modern techniques.
   • Artists like Bruce Onobrakpeya and El Anatsui have had their works exhibited in international galleries, making significant cultural and artistic contributions.
3. Areas of Specialization:
   • Nigerian contemporary artists specialize in various mediums, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, and installation art.
   • For example, Ben Enwonwu’s sculptures and Bruce Onobrakpeya’s printmaking are internationally recognized.
4. Board Summary:
   • Chief Aina Onabolu (1882–1963) – Portraiture, watercolour.
   • Akinola Lasekan (1916–1972) – Painting, political cartoons.
   • Akeredolu Justus (1915–1984) – Sculpture, wood carving.
   • Bruce Onobrakpeya (1932–present) – Printmaking, etching.
   • Ben Enwonwu (1917–1994) – Sculpture, painting.
   • El Anatsui (1944–present) – Sculpture with recycled materials.
   • Yusuf Grillo (1934–2021) – Painting, modernist style.

Class Activity Discussion:

1. Who is Chief Aina Onabolu?
   A Nigerian artist known for his portraiture and watercolour paintings.
2. When was Akinola Lasekan born?
   1916.
3. What is Akeredolu Justus known for?
   His work in sculpture and wood carving.
4. What is Bruce Onobrakpeya famous for?
   Printmaking and deep etching.
5. When did Ben Enwonwu live?
   From 1917 to 1994.
6. What materials does El Anatsui use in his work?
   Recycled materials like bottle caps.
7. What is Yusuf Grillo’s area of specialization?
   Painting.
8. How did Nigerian contemporary artists impact global art?
   Their works are exhibited worldwide, influencing international art movements.
9. What was Akinola Lasekan’s contribution to Nigerian art?
   He created paintings and political cartoons that reflected Nigerian society.
10. How did Bruce Onobrakpeya influence modern Nigerian art?
    Through his innovative printmaking techniques and deep etching.
11. What style is Ben Enwonwu known for?
    A blend of African traditions and modern techniques.
12. What type of art does El Anatsui create?
    Large sculptures using recycled materials.
13. What is a key theme in Yusuf Grillo’s paintings?
    Yoruba traditions mixed with modernist elements.
14. Which Nigerian artist is considered the father of modern Nigerian art?
    Chief Aina Onabolu.
15. Why is Bruce Onobrakpeya’s work significant internationally?
    For his deep etching and printmaking, which has been exhibited globally.

Presentation:

1. Step 1: Revising the previous topic
   The teacher revises the key features of Nigerian contemporary art, discussed in the previous lesson.
2. Step 2: Introducing the new topic
   The teacher introduces the names of key Nigerian contemporary artists, along with their birth dates and areas of specialization.
3. Step 3: Allowing pupils to contribute
   Pupils are encouraged to share the names of any Nigerian artists they know. The teacher corrects and provides more details about each artist’s contributions and style.

Teacher’s Activities:

1. Display images of artworks created by the listed artists.
2. Explain the contributions of each artist, emphasizing their dates of birth and specializations.
3. Engage the students in discussions about the artists and their impact on Nigerian art.
4. Encourage students to research more about these artists for future projects.

Learners’ Activities:

1. Participate in identifying the works of the different artists.
2. Contribute to discussions on the artists’ styles and mediums.
3. Answer questions about the biographies and contributions of Nigerian contemporary artists.

Evaluation Questions:

1. When was Chief Aina Onabolu born?
2. What was Akinola Lasekan’s area of specialization?
3. Name one sculpture artist from Nigeria.
4. What is Bruce Onobrakpeya known for?
5. Who is El Anatsui and what medium does he work with?
6. When did Yusuf Grillo die?
7. What materials does El Anatsui use in his artworks?
8. Who is considered the father of modern Nigerian art?
9. What did Ben Enwonwu specialize in?
10. What is one of Yusuf Grillo’s artistic themes?

Conclusion:

The teacher will go around the classroom to check students’ notes and contributions, ensuring they have understood the lesson. Any areas of confusion will be clarified, and students will be encouraged to explore more Nigerian contemporary artists for further learning.

More Useful Links 

• Discover the Impact of Nigerian Contemporary Artists Cultural and Creative Arts JSS 3 First Term Lesson Notes Week 5