In describing the Yoruba contemporary art, I would like to use the sentence of my old British art teacher, Peter Chase (November, 11th 2000 in his house, 5 Emsworths Road, Shirley, Southampton. England.) who lives in Shirley, Britain and now going to 80 years, he says, contemporary art is "Art of today". I think this is the precise and appropriate sentence. Yoruba art of today is very diverse. 
The diversity does not abandon the philosophy behind Yoruba ancient art, it adds to it. The worldview of the Yoruba still plays a dominant role in the contemporary arts of the Yoruba. Religion still lies as the basis of the Yoruba contemporary art. Let us go into the reasons for this diversity. 
The reasons are war, outside influence, Christianity, western education, Islam, independent of the artists, etc. The entire above mentioned points added new dimension to the Yoruba society. They provided more materials for artists to draw from. The artists added their newfound materials to the ancient materials in use. 
Towards the third quarter of the 19th Century, Yorubaland was seriously involved in a civil war, hardly can one dream of any settlement then that were not involved in war. The exception was Ile-Ife, which all Yorubas regarded as their spiritual base. No army or warriors dared to attack it. Any attack on Ile-Ife at this particular period in history was an attack on the Yorubaland as a whole. Only Ile-Ife was at peace. This honour and respect for Ile-Ife made it to preserve its tradition in art up to the 20th Century. 
But in the other parts of the Yorubaland the story was different, the wars forced the people to migrate to another settlements where relative peace can be guaranteed. In these waves of migration, artists were not spared. They migrated like the other people with their knowledge, experiences and creativities. Before, the artists' subject matter were more based on religion, after the wars, the experiences of the past wars enriched their artistical repertoire, another subject matter was found-WAR. 
Because of the war also, family-based art form which put particular art form like carving, pottery, metal and bronze casting, textile design, etc. as the family professions, as the war made families to scatter all over Yorubaland, and the artists involved wish to teach others his art, willing learners from other families from the newly found homes of the artists became accepted. Art spreads. The new would-be artists also had their own different backgrounds and experiences, which they incorporated in their art in the way they expressed themselves. 
Outside influence also contributed to the birth of Yoruba contemporary art. Towards the end of the 19th Century, Europeans came to Yorubaland, not only to trade but also to rule. The British colonised Lagos, an important town in Yorubaland in the 1860s, they established colonial government in Lagos. After a few years, all the Yorubaland came under the British rule. Yoruba art was highly appreciated by the British; they stole what they could steal because Yorubaland was just coming out of civil wars then. British soldiers were also fighting some Yoruba empires and kingdoms then in order to establish their own colonial rule. In this process, British were exploiting the situation by carting away Yoruba ancient art works found in the palaces, shrines and the houses of chiefs in Yorubaland to Britain. When the British people who stole these Yoruba art works took them to Britain, their people were so excited and got fascinated by this kind of new art. Some lovers of art from Britain came to Yorubaland to get more, as the law of economics says, when the demand is higher than supply, it drives the prices up. As the prices went up, more Yorubas, especially the younger ones were encouraged to become artists in order to benefit from the booty. Art became a real profession, not hobby or part-time job anymore. 
Christianity also gave rise to the Yoruba contemporary art. Christianity came to Nigeria shortly before the colonial rule. It started a new movement and believe. It started to influence the people's thinking. New religion was introduced into Yorubaland. The Yorubas who had been used to belief in one God (Olodumare) and other servants of God called Irunmole now got to know God in different view. Their new art works now incorporate the new religion-Christianity with their own worldview. One would now see Jesus praying in the shrines, no more in the church or temple. Art works based on the story of new Samaritans from the bible were produced. The story of the Sodom and Gomorrah could now be bought from Yoruba artists. 
When we are discussing about the Yoruba contemporary art, we should not forget the part played by western education. Before, one could only learn Yoruba art under a particular master, who must also be one's relative, but when western education started in Yorubaland, one could learn how to draw, how to mould, how to carve, how to do all the aspects of art, method of learning changed. Artists are not born anymore they can also be made. Some people would not stop learning art in elementary school; they would go further to pursue art studies in the middle and secondary schools, even up to the colleges and the universities in the 20th Century. All products of this art education contributed in no small measure in the starting of new Yoruba contemporary art movement. They started new thoughts in art. They travelled to Europe and America, where they brought new ideas which were reflected in their art works. They started other forms of art making that were really unknown in the Yoruba society.
These forms of art are: modern painting with oil, printmaking, deep etching, collage, batik wax with many colours, etc. But still, the sophistication of the ancient Yoruba art both in finishing, subject matter, thoughts, forms, beauty, style, aesthetic values are far more richer than the present Yoruba art. This is true of all the development of art I have seen in the other parts of the world. It is good that we have words to differentiate ancient art from contemporary art. Though, I am an artist myself, I love ancient art all over the world more than the so-called modern art. 
Due to the emergence of other professions in Yorubaland like accountancy, engineering, banking, teaching, law, etc. and the high living standard of those who are in these professions, Yoruba artists of today are also striving to live big. They are trying to read and target their audience- the art patrons worldwide by producing the kind of works that their patrons would like, in order to bring out expected rewards. The art lovers are now calling the shots, while before, the artists would called the shots, because monetary rewards was not important consideration then. This made the ancient artists in Yorubaland to have more freedom in creativity. The person who commissioned an art work would only come and see the finishing, only for appreciation not to criticise. And the artist involved would also produce the best work of art. The artist was in control. The Yoruba artists of today organised themselves in different professional art groups, this made them to be more assertive on the art scene. They are also discussing and charting the development of Yoruba art. They are no more isolated like the artists of the ancient. 
Textile designs like adire eleko (made from starch and cloth), adire oniko (made from rappiah palm thread and cloth), adire alabere (made from needle and cloth), pottery, wall and temple designs are mostly done by women while men do iron smelting, carving and sculptures. Men and women do cloth weaving, metal, brass and bronze works. 

by Prince (Babalawo) Adigun Olosun, MA, MA, PGDJ, PGCR