Roles and Types Of Igbo Traditional Dances - By Godwin C. Nwaogwugwu

Published with permission from the Author of an on-going work documenting the Igbo traditions from South Eastern Nigeria. Please for any question contact the Author directly through gnwaogwugwu@imoonline.org

Before internet and print media has anyone wondered how Igbo people of South Eastern Nigeria disseminated information and voiced out criticisms? It was through traditional music. I found that mode of information dissemination very ingenious, because it was a serious work embedded into entertainment, which made criticisms look like comical relief such that people criticized would even laugh and accept such criticisms. Traditional music in Igbo land served various purposes ranging from social criticism, entertainment, military, bridal, exercise, ceremonial, etc purposes.
Some of the most popular traditional dances in Igbo land, which I implore young Igbo men and women to revive and replicate in their various communities include:

'Abigbo' and ‘Ekere-Avu’ dances (social critics) both from Mbaise community in Nigeria were used for social criticisms in an entertaining manner. Through Abigbo, people could collectively voice out criticisms on governments and powerful people in the society, which otherwise a single person could not do without being victimized.

The ‘Mmanwu’ (masquerades) were widely used to protect deities and to deliver judgments/penalties on otherwise powerful people because masquerades were untouchable, feared to be spirits. Young men enlisted into the groups to effectively act as a local police.

‘Omuru-onwa’ and ‘Agbacha-Ekuru nwa ’ were both dance groups for married ladies and could be compared to today’s exercise clubs in the west. Married women and new mothers used such entertaining avenues to exercise, lose weight, shed baby fats and stay healthy through weekly rehearsals.

The ‘Atilogwu’ (Acrobatic Dance) was an acrobatic dance that served both as entertainment but also equivalent to today’s cheerleaders in the west. The acrobatic flips, high jumps, etc kept young men in shape and out of crime.

‘Nkwa umu-Agbogho’ (the Maiden dance) was mostly a dance group for young ladies. The breathe-taking chest and waist dance, where maidens who have come of age to marry flaunted their body in seductive manners to attract suitors. It also helped the younger girls keep mind and body busy to abstain from s-exual activities before marriage.

‘Ikpirikpi-ogu’ (War dance) was a dance of warriors usually used to welcome soldiers back from tribal wars. Today it’s purely symbolical to show the prowess and valor of a community and it’s triumph over collective challenges

Igba Ndi Eze (A dance for the kings) . This was used to usher in kings, titled men and women either into an arena or into an occasion.

‘Ekpe’ was a type of masquerade but usually was more confined in a vicinity, where young men could boast of their valor and strength in turns.

Ijele – Ijele was the king masquerade, beautifully adorned, accompanied by other smaller masquerades and usually comes out last in any Igbo ceremonial event.

‘Mgba’ (Wrestling dance) was used to cheer wrestlers as young men and women competed in local championships.

‘Ese’ (funereal dance) - had two versions. ‘Ese-ike’ was played only on an elevated platform to celebrate the life of a well-accomplished man, while ‘Ese-Ala’ was played on the ground with an array of talking drums and xylophones to celebrate the live of a well-accomplished woman.

‘Ikoro’ was a huge wooden gong carved out of huge tree trunks. It was used to communicate to the entire community because of its deep, loud resonating sound. The ‘Ikoro’ dance itself was a very

Almost all Igbo traditional music are played with a combination of:
Igba (Cylindrical drums) – made of cylindrical woods and animal hydes
Ogene - metal gongs
Ikoro – big wooden gongs
Okwa – small wooden gongs

Oja – wooden flute
Osha – a calabash either filed with tiny plant seeds, or decorated with cowries
Udu - Clay pot
Xylophones – an array of specially-arrange woods of various lengths

Op nice one.

You forgot to mention Igede, Ekeleke, Okonko, Okorosha, Izaga

adeitoro:
Op nice one.

You forgot to mention Igede, Ekeleke, Okonko, Okorosha, Izaga

Thanks, we will contact Author for update

Definition of 'wife material'



An endowed girl flawlessly swinging her waist to an Ibo rhythm .... Really hard for a man to look away from



A GOOD WAIST, A GOOD RYTHM, AND FLAWLESS TRADO-TWERKING, triples an Ibo girl's market value overnight.



if you think I am lying, ask Uncle Chinedu....

una try

yes o

nice

Why are men wearing iro and skirts?

po

Interesting!

Nice

Ikoro reminded me of the beautiful Ikoro dance of Akwete in Ndoki(Abia State). I wonder if it still exists.
Nice one Op

I love dis ........#teamrespectIGBOculture

exposureworld:
Igba Ndi Eze (A dance for the kings) . This was used to usher in kings, titled men and women either into an arena or into an occasion.

YOOOO!!!! THIS IS MY MOTHERF*CKING SH*T!!!!!!!!!!!!!

or literally translated:

"Heyyyyyyy Chineke Nna!!!! Ihe a bu my motherfucken nsi!!!!!!!!"

igbo kwenu

Atilogun my number one...

Nice dances, Love ijele glamour and atilogwu breathe taking acrobatic flips.

Igba ndi eze blows my mind
Home-calling

Wonderful culture of wonderful people