Developing Indigenous Colour Pigments for the Theatre in Nigeria

Over the years, theatre designers and artists in Nigeria have been dependent on imported colourants, despite the availability of local raw materials, which could be processed to obtain these colourants. This book discusses the possibility of exploring local alternatives by way of sourcing for colour-producing substances in parts of Nigeria, refining and putting them to use in stage scenery, costume and make-up. This study has ascertained that raw colour pigments are available in ample quantity in Nigeria, enough to sustain commercial colour production, and that the demand for colourants in Nigeria and the cost are high. This work should therefore be valuable to stakeholders in colour manufacturing, trade and usage - individuals, entrepreneurs, organizations and government who may wish to explore the opportunities in the colour-manufacturing sector for the sustenance and development of scenography and visual arts in Nigeria. Researchers studying artistic production materials, and those reviewing the social, economic and the cultural circumstances of art practice in Nigeria would find this work useful.

Autorentext

Esekong Andrew, Ph.D: Studied Theatre Design at the University of Calabar, Nigeria where he also teaches Scenography; Consults on Cultural Tourism and Carnival Arts. Dr Andrew is currently researching on Visual and Performative Strategies for Development Communication in Nigeriä, a project he first presented at BIARI, Brown University, US in 2010