Problematizing the Dominant Narrative on Women’s Involvement in Igbo Masking Traditions

Asogwa, Odoja; Odoh, George

doi:10.1177/00219096221079333

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In the pre-European contact and pre-Christian Igbo society, masquerades had special place in the socio-cultural and religious life of the people [1] . It symbolised the collective will and conscience of the community to which they belonged.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Dynamics and Resilience in the Northern Igbo Masking Traditions

Asogwa¹

2022

card

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The coming of the Europeans into Igbo land engendered change-producing forces. Their encounter with the indigenous people created liminality that disrupted vital facets of Igbo traditional life. Masquerades formed a significant aspect of the Igbo cultural heritage. It was hit the hardest by the colonial encounter but comparably changed the least. Participant observation method was used to collect information for this study. It identified a few of the change-producing forces and tried to understand the reasons for the resilience of the masquerade institution in the face of a battery of the forces of the agencies of modern social change ranged against it. Their effects have been enormous but because of the intense belief of the people in masquerades as the incarnate spirit of their ancestors, and the need for them to maintain and sustain the historical links and primordial relationships between them, the institution continues to thrive. Masquerading is a creative act that employs various arts, sciences, and technologies, and incorporates them to produce all-round theatre.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Dynamics and Resilience in the Northern Igbo Masking Traditions

Asogwa¹

2022

card

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A thorough grasp of the worldview of any given group of people is a fundamental prerequisite for the understanding of the rest of the interconnected belief, ideas, values and practices of the group (Kalu 2022). Towards understanding the worldview of the Nsukka-Igbo people, particularly in the aspect of the Ọmabe masquerade, several studies (Aniakor 1976(Aniakor , 1988Asogwa & Duniya 2017;Asogwa & Odoh 2022;Nwoko 1989;Ugwu 2011) have been carried out. Unfortunately, none of these studies touches on this traditional festival and its implications on therapy and healing and general well-being, given that a subject such as traditional festival and its implication on therapy, healing and general well-being ought to stimulate the intellect in search of new conceptual directions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reappraising the Nsukka Ọmabe festival through the lens of ethno-aesthetics, therapy and healing

Okoro

2022

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In Igbo traditional religion (ITR), there are different means through which therapy and healing are achieved. One such means is through the Nsukka-Igbo Ọmabe masquerade festival rituals and performance theatre. To seek out this aspect of the cultural festival that has been under-researched, this study delves into detailed discussions of the pre-arrival, arrival, events in between, departure and postdeparture of the Ọmabe masquerade festival. Relying on a qualitative method, the study analytically and descriptively discusses the data gathered through participatory observations and interview sessions with some of the devotees possessing sufficient knowledge of the masquerade tradition and festival. Photographs have been included to flesh out the narratives, as well as enrich and enhance the readers’ engagement with the article. Also, relevant materials from extant literature are quoted and cited. The study examined the rituals, music, performances and other interesting key components of the festival and found that the traditional practice through masquerade festivals such as the Ọmabe is therapeutic, leading to emotional activation and healing. Undoubtedly, this has been sustaining its re-enactments in the face of neoreligious intolerance, urbanisation, modernity and globalisation that have been adversely affecting cultural practices.Contribution: The article critically engages with the reappraisal of the Ọmabe cultural heritage festival among the Nsukka-Igbo people, providing thought-provoking, impactful research as well as insightful reading towards achieving an understanding of its rituals, materiality and performance theatre and their accompanying therapy and healing benefits. Bearing in mind that HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies focuses on religious issues and that the ‘masking festival’ is a part of Indigenous religious practice, the author considers this article to be suitable for its objectives.

show abstract

Problematizing the Dominant Narrative on Women’s Involvement in Igbo Masking Traditions

Cited by 2 publications

References 28 publications

Social Dynamics and Resilience in the Northern Igbo Masking Traditions

Social Dynamics and Resilience in the Northern Igbo Masking Traditions

Reappraising the Nsukka Ọmabe festival through the lens of ethno-aesthetics, therapy and healing

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About