Indigenous Aesthetics as a Source of Creative and Intellectual Growth: Focusing on the Intrinsic and Extrinsic Values of Asante Kente Cloths

Abstract

The study is about the Intrinsic and extrinsic values of some selected weaves of the Kente weavers among the Asantes of Ghana. The researchers employed the descriptive and case study methods to examine and discuss the relationship between the study of aesthetics and the creative and intellectual growth of learners. The study employed questionnaire, Interviews and observation as research instruments as well as analyzing' the data thematically to enhance quality of the study. The essence of art education is education through art; In this vein, a focus of the art teacher to use art as a catalyst to prepare the learner to develop holistically to be able to be a problem solver in his endeavours rather than becoming a burden to society. Moreover, it does not mean that the learner will by all means end up as an artist but rather a big asset to his community in which s/he lives. If the nation needs creative and intelligent citizens to turn it around, then art education is a great source to achieving this goal. This paper therefore, discusses aesthetic dimensions of Asante Kente through which the learner gains intellectual and creative growth in Art Education. The study has confirmed the idea that indigenous African artists and Kente Weavers of Ashanti have their own standards of Aesthetics, Appreciation and Criticism.