Fourth International Conference on Tourism and Leisure Studies

Abstract

History of leisure behavior in Nigeria presents a caricature of the indigenous leisure that people presume it is outdated and non beneficial especially to the present generation. Before the advents of Europeans, Nigerians had a very rich tradition of indigenous leisure participation. A country that was purely agrarian in nature, had demonstrated strong commitment to leisure program especially after their daily subsistence farming. A vista of indigenous leisure activities that Nigerians used to enjoy during their free period included Ayo Opon, traditional dance, traditional wrestling, masquerading, hunting expedition, Traditional grill / Barbeque, storytelling by community Elders to children, moon light leisure program, creative leisure like tie and dye, basket making. All of these ostensibly featured prominently across ethnic and cultural divide in Nigeria. But the story has changed; there is a monumental shift in leisure pursuit, leisure program, leisure interest, access and availability among Nigerians. Today’s leisure interest and attitude of the youth gravitate towards westernize programs. This has a crippling influence on our traditional leisure activities. Our children are not familiar with the indigenous leisure activities hence; they cannot come to term with them. This has further created an inestimable gap with the attendant social menace. This paper therefore identified factors responsible for the waning interest and proposed the use of Leisure- matics therapy to rescue our indigenous leisure program from extinction.