REVOLUTIONIZING EDUCATION: LEVERAGING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY FOR ENHANCED TEACHING AND LEARNING OF YORUBA ART AND COLOUR SYMBOLISM

Abstract

This study explores how digital technology can enhance the teaching and learning of Yorùbá art and colour symbolism across Oyo state, Nigeria. In Yorùbá aesthetics, hues such as ‘funfun’ (white), ‘pupa’ (red), and ‘dudu’ (black) convey profound spiritual, social, and cosmological meanings - embedded in practices like ‘Adire’ textile dyeing, ‘Ifá divination, and ceremonial life. Yet, conventional pedagogical methods struggle to engage the region’s diverse learners, including students, educators, cultural practitioners, and digitally native youth. To address this, the author(s) designed digital tools interactive e-modules, VR/AR simulations, and AI-supported learning aids with Yorùbá knowledge custodians from Oyo State, a cultural epicenter of the Yorùbá world. These prototypes were developed with the explicit intention of “scalable adaptation across all Oyo state, Nigeria” (Oyo state), where Yorùbá people share a common symbolic lexicon even amid religious and urban diversity. Preliminary findings indicate that ‘community-rooted digital immersion fosters deeper comprehension and cultural pride’, particularly among learners aged 10-35. This research advocates for ‘tech-augmented, community-led models’ that empower local educators, museums, and cultural institutions across Oyo state, Nigeria to preserve, adapt, and share Yorùbá visual heritage - ensuring it remains a living, accessible, and evolving tradition.