The Efficacy of Objects as Symbolic Representations in Africa: The Case of Oroko World view

Africa is built on culture. Culture is a record of all elements saved in the arts, which speak for a people, perfected and transmitted in performance. The culture of a people and its transmission is exhibited through various performances during which diverse objects converse with the audience based on who they are, their status, and what they know. We approach this paper from the Afrocentric perspective, sampling four objects from the field: three stone fire side, calabash, snake, and water. These were selected and discussed among many as symbolic representations of notions in Oroko world view and belief systems. Our aim for using these objects is not to discuss Cultural Marxist theory and its tenets, but to sample symbolic representations of certain objects considered important and valuable to a people through the Black Aesthetic theory. This paper reveals that Africans grow and organize their lives around various objects and art forms accompanied by their symbolic representations that establish relationships and order in their various communities. As a conclusion, the study answers the question, if Africa is not the same everywhere, could there be some broad outlines or underlying elements by which certain generalizations can be made as common to Africans?