AfricaBib 
bibliographic database
| Previous page | New search |
The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here
 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
 WorldCat |
| Title: | Theatrical Aesthetics and Functional Values of Ekuechi Masquerade Ensemble of the Ebira People of Nigeria |
| Author: | Ododo, Sunday E. |
| Year: | 2001 |
| Periodical: | African Study Monographs |
| Volume: | 22 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Pages: | 1-36 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Nigeria |
| Subjects: | Igbira traditional festivals folk drama Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Architecture and the Arts |
| External link: | https://jambo.africa.kyoto-u.ac.jp/kiroku/asm_normal/abstracts/pdf/22-1/1-36.pdf |
| Abstract: | The Ekuechi festival is a ritualistic enactment of myth, legend and traditional social events meant to mark the end of a year and usher in a new. The Ebira people of Kogi State in Nigeria celebrate it annually between late November and early January. This essay explores the festival to investigate the dynamics of artistic theatre elements in a pure festive performance setting, and the functional relevance of the festival to the Ebira in particular and the wider society in general. Performative realities of space, spectacles, costumes, make-up, lighting, music, dance, props and the mise-en-scène, shape the aesthetic priorities in the essay. The ethnographic documentation of the Ekuechi festival has become very important because of its socio-aesthetic relevance in the understanding of the cosmology and artistic heritage of the Ebira people. The essay concludes that if the organizers take full advantage of modern theatre practice, the entire festival has the potential of becoming a major tourist attraction with meaningful economic and material benefits for the Ebira people. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. |
