Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future: The Case of Odumu Music and Dance Among the Idoma People

Abstract

Odumu music among the Idoma people in Nigeria has served historical, sociological and entertainment functions. Performed predominantly by male members of the society, female community members are allowed to participate in the dance as a mark of collective cultural identity and responsibility. Communality is a core community ethos among the Idoma which promotes individual expression within a wider communal space. This paper, therefore, examines Odumu musical performance from the angle of its socio-cultural significance as well as its reflection of anthropocentric impact in shaping the environment. In a specific sense, the paper aims to highlight the musical narrative of how the people have encountered and impacted their environment, and how such experience have shaped their cultural expressions using the instrumentality of traditional music and dance. The research adopted observations and interviews as field methods among the Idoma people as well as Odumu performers to obtain data for the research. Analysis of data obtained reveals that Odumu musical performance provides a space for socio-cultural identity, transmission of culture and re-enacting historical facts that promote communal bonding. Hence, it reinforces the larger social sense of belonging. This paper will be of benefit to environmental and cultural scholars by providing knowledge on the intersection of music, culture and the environment among less visible indigenous groups like the Idoma people.