“It is significant that we preserve our culture with
performing arts to help us to reclaim our cultural values,” Muhammed told the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“There is no way one can develop economically and socially
without understanding his or her cultural dynamics.
“Performing arts in schools will help to inculcate values in
children as most parents have lost touch with Nigeria’s cultural values owing
to their busy schedules,’’ he said.
Mohammed noted that failure to preserve and promote the
culture of Nigeria through performing arts would expose Nigerians to avoidable
dangers of cultural values decline.
“Performing arts serve as one of the most significant,
dynamic, and social influences on human behaviour and interaction.
“They also provide a commanding and democratic way of
sharing, shaping, and expressing human and cultural values,’’ he said.
Mohammed said also that performing arts had a way of telling
the story of Nigeria’s way of life.
Local music, dance and drama also reflected the nation’s
identity just as they had influence on communities, he said.
Mohammed noted that Nigeria’s culture included modes of
dressing, mannerisms, music, dance and food, among others.
He added that performing arts would help Nigerians to invite
certain mannerisms into individuals’ attitudes.
The artistic director urged parents to raise their children
to be abreast of their cultural values and avoid their being replaced by
foreign cultures.