Traditional art and the individual:An ethnographic investigation of Turkana kitchen art.
Abstract
This thesis presents findings of a study entitled 'Traditional Art and the Individual:
An ethnographic investigation of Turkana kitchen art.' The study was done in
Turkana North District in northwestern Kenya.
The main objective ofthe study was to explore the role of the individual in
traditional kitchen art in Turkana. There were three specific objectives; to
investigate the extent to which traditional Turkana ki tchen art is an individual
activity, to examine if there are any deviations in the standard style of Turkana
kitchen art and to establish the extrinsic values in traditional Turkana kitchen art by
the degree of ingenuity and innovation. The study was carried out among female
artists. This was done during the month of April 2008.
The study was qualitative and descriptive. Interviews and observation were the
methods used for data collection. Non- probability techniques of purposive and
snowball sampling were used. Information from questionnaires was subjected to
quantitative analysis using descriptive statistics. The Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS) was used for analysis. The qualitative and descriptive
information from key informant interviews were incorporated into the findings.
The study was guided by the theory of individualism. Although selective
application of Eurocentric definitions on traditional African art has tended to
deprive African art of its aesthetic principles, an individualistic approach allowed
an open approach to traditional, art. The study findings indicated that the artists
tended to enjoy the freedom to deviate from standard style and create beautiful
items driven not by tradition, standards or community but by their own personal
idiosyncrasies.
The study recommends that the findings be used as a tool or reference by
researchers towards a more critical approach to African art and encourages
independent thought on the role of the individual in traditional African art.
Citation
Master of ArtsSponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
University of Nairobi Faculty of Arts, University of Nairobi,Kenya