Like most Africans, early Nigerians saw art as inextricably linked to religion. Igbo wooden statues, formerly known as Ikeng pillars, served as ritual and relic storage locations. Several of these have survived to the present day and are housed at the National Museum of Nigeria in Lagos and the British Museum in London. Early Nigerians adhered to traditional visions. Everything changed with the entrance of the British colonists.
The colonial system introduced Western education, aiding contemporary art's growth. Young Nigerians have access to modern materials, skills, and ideas while rejecting traditional culture. As a result, the bronze styles of Igbo-Ukwu, Ife, and Benin, which date back to the 9th century A.D., as well as Ibeyi wood carvings and other cultural treasures, were under threat of extinction.
Following Nigeria's independence in the 1960s, there was an enormous cultural explosion. Contemporary art was created by combining techniques brought from the West with centuries-old cultural values, resulting in exoticism and originality that draws in viewers.
Interesting: In 2022, Brotherhood was the most successful Nollywood film. This
Nigerian production generated a gross box office revenue of approximately 329 million Nigerian Naira, which is equivalent to roughly 416,000 US dollars. Hollywood films accounted for the majority of revenue earned by the film industry in Liberia, Ghana, and Nigeria. Nollywood production received 30% of the total share.