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TRADITION IN THE HAND OF MODERNITY Photographs by C. Carwile This sculpture by D. Offiong is on display in the arts complex at the University of Nigeria-Nsukka. Offiong’s sculpture depicts a partially mechanized hand presenting a kola nut. Kola nuts are seeds that grow within the pods of large kola trees found throughout tropical West Africa. |
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| The kola, which contains caffeine, is chewed as a stimulant and holds great social significance for many ethnic groups in Nigeria. It is given as a symbol of hospitality, friendship and respect and is presented to guests at important social events such as weddings, funerals, and infant naming ceremonies. This artistic juxtaposition of the deeply traditional with the strangely modern captures a profound irony of everyday life in Nigeria. |
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