An Analysis of Rhythm and Yoruba Cultural Aspects in the Works of Kunle Filani

Traditional Yoruba artistic heritage has a rich repertoire of motifs, forms, and colour with deep symbolic meanings often used in communicating thoughts and ideas. In modern Nigerian art, a recourse to cultural iconography has always influenced artistic creation. This paper therefore examines the rhythmic organization of forms using the Yoruba cultural iconography which characterizes the works of Kunle Filani, whose works draw significantly on the philosophy of Yoruba tradition. Thirteen paintings have been purposefully selected for evaluation and analysis using the simple random method and the formal analysis technique. Findings reveal that Filani uses motifs, signs and symbols creatively as visual similes and metaphors to communicate thoughts and ideas. Filani also uses his art to make positive statements which have generated curious public reactions. This paper concludes that cultural content and context can induce socio-cultural development and serve as veritable tool to preserve and advance the cultural heritage of the Yoruba people as evident in Filani’s work.