DANCES/MUSIC FROM THE FIVE EASTERN STATES

Music and dance are fundamentals to the African way of life. Beyond a simple means of artistic expression, dances are sacred, holding deeply symbolic meanings and significance. Furthermore, a wide variety of rhythmic patterns form d basis of dance in Africa.[N]`igerian traditional music as other African traditional music centres on rites of passage: birth puberty, marriage and death, and it involves certain rituals offered to traditional gods for the unity of the people and to link them to the supreme being. Traditional music in the country, therefore has an element of religious ritual attached to it in one form or the other. Because these rituals are only for the initiates, the term “secret society” was used by western scholars. These secret societies, governed the social attitudes prevalent in the area; regulated sexual conduct, supervised political affairs and provided various forms of entertainment, and popular music drew its inspiration and general form from the activities of the secret societies.A survey of Nigerian traditional music must focus on the individual and collective functions of musical instruments, musical instruments as symbolic musical instruments identified with particular deities and number symbolism. It examines the peculiar role of song texts as well as the different uses and functions of traditional orchestras.`

NATIVE DANCE/MUSIC FROM ANAMBRAATILOGWU DANCE/ MUSIC One of such dances is the Atilogwu dance, regarded as the national dance of the Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria. It is a vigorous dance which literally means “Is this magic?” and combines elements of gymnastics with foot-stomping rhythms and brilliant costume colors. Atilogwu is Fast and energetic, it is done with acrobats.

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It is a dance of the youths in the society who undergo rigorous training before presenting the dance in public. Once approved, the dance is performed during important festivals and great social occasions.

Since dance offers as much variety as the music and traditional delights, African dancers are earth centered; dancers repeatedly return to the earth as they give themselves to the rhythmic pulse. This is one of the features of the Atilogwu dance. The dance is not also complete without wiggling, a common characteristic of a typical Nigerian dance.

Atilogwu dance has been elevated to a dazzling art form, simply put; Atilogwu has become a celebrated signature of Nigerian culture, performed around the world

IJELE DANCE/MUSICIjele dances majestically to the royal Igba-eze: dance of the Kings popularly called Akunechenyi. The musical instruments includes 4 drums, ogene, ubom, uyo, Ekwe, flute (Oja - ufele), wooden clapper (aja - oja) amongst others.

DANCES IN IMO STATENKWOTILEThe Nkwotile dance (rump dance) is common in Mbaise. This is the chance used for celebrating the annual yam festival and for propitiating the yam god Ajoku (Ahanjoku). This dance has been modified over the years to ekpe, mmanwu (masquerade), Iroko, ekereavu, abigbo to mgba (wrestling).

NWAABURUJA AND OZOEBUNE DANCENwaaburuja and Ozoebune dance is used to celebrate the harvest of the first yams in Arondizuogu. It serves to unify and foster ties among Aro people who are spread across the entire Igbo speaking states and part of

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Cross River state. It appeals to the entire Igbo speaking peoples both at home and in the Diaspora.

MUSIC/DANCES FROM ABIA STATEEKPIRIKPE OGUEkpirikpe Ogu is a war dance performed by warriors, for warriors and during epoch making/marking events of valor. Giving the traditional origin of Ogbuebulle people who migrated from Bende, this dance is believed to have been inherited from their ancestral home.

NKWA UMU AGBOGHO Nkwa Umu Agbogho is a good example of dance that is related to courtship is the “Nkwa Umu Agbogho” of Afikpo in Imo State. This particular performance which is performed by young girls, used to be a traditional dance in honour of a hero in wrestling contest. History has it that the Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe met one of his wives - Uche when she was dancing to the titillating dance rhythm of the “Nkwa Umu Agbogho” of Afikpo.

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