Appraising Selected Gbagyi And Dukkawa Traditional Cloth Motifs

Abstract

Motifs are complementary design units of an artistic pieces, apparent in the Visual arts. In textile, it reflects cultural tradition of artistic identity, diversity and heritage. This study examines the motif traditions in clothing of the Kuta (Gbagyi) and Rafi (Dukawa) people of Niger state Nigeria. It is aimed at appraising their motifs through identification, examination and comparison. A qualitative research approach was adopted for this study. Data were collected through direct field investigative methodology of interviews, observation, sketch illustration and photographic documentation. Finding reveal that both ethnic groups employ rectilinear and curvilinear motifs (lines: thin, thick, broken, straight and diagonal; shapes: triangle, diamond, and parallelogram), used structurally and symbolically. It further revealed the similarities and dissimilarities in motif expressions of each group. These differences reflect environmental influence, cultural beliefs, and historical development within the two ethnic community. The study concludes that the motifs of the Gbagyi and Dukawa people are both unique and interconnected, expressing cultural identity while maintaining distinct visual characteristics. It consequently recommended the need for preservation and promotion of indigenous cloth motifs by practitioners, scholars and governments.