NIGERIA SCULPTURAL TRADITION AS VIABLE OPTION FOR TOURISM PROMOTION: AN ASSESSMENT OF ESIE MYSTERIOUS STONE SCULPTURES (Published)
Esie stone sculptures are the largest collection of carved stone structures in Africa, and precisely in the world at large. Since its discovery in Esie community of Igbomina town, the stone sculptures pose a lot of complex questions defying answers. In view of this, the soapstone sculptures have continued to amass academic research and studies towards unravelling its makers. Howbeit, that art works especially sculptures known to be functional objects in African worldview either used for religious or court activities are found in a bush. Objects depicting varied cultural traits (tribal marks, hair style,) involved in human activities (playing musical instruments, dancers, farming, etc) and showing status quo (necklace, bracelet). Intriguing of all is the kingship setting of the sculptures explicitly displaying a community life which of a truth augurs well with the local myth surrounding the sculptures. Upon the ingenuity and authenticity of these stone sculptures rest the premise of this paper which is to bring to limelight the tourism potentials of the stone sculptures
Keywords: Esie Museum, Soapstone Images, Stone Sculpture, Tourism