Mural Art as a Tool for Community Communication in Makurdi, Benue State

Public mural art has emerged as a significant medium of visual communication in Nigerian urban communities, serving simultaneously as aesthetic enhancement, social commentary, and civic identity marker. This study investigates the role of mural art in community communication in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, situated in Nigeria's North Central geopolitical zone. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study documents existing murals across six wards of the Makurdi metropolis through photographic survey and applies content analysis to identify recurring themes, symbols, and messages encoded in the works. In-depth interviews are conducted with 12 mural artists and 60 community residents to assess production intentions and audience reception. The theoretical framework draws on semiotics and the social function of public art, engaging with recent scholarship on community-engaged art practice in sub-Saharan Africa. The study examines whether mural art in Makurdi addresses issues of peace and reconciliation relevant to the farmer-herder conflict that has characterised Benue State in recent years, and whether the works are produced collaboratively with communities or imposed by external agents. The research also evaluates the institutional support from the Benue State Ministry of Arts and Culture and from non-governmental organisations active in the state. Findings are expected to contribute to the literature on art for social change in the North Central zone and provide practical insights for arts administrators and community development practitioners. Keywords: mural art, community communication, Makurdi, public art, social function