Chapter Two (2) 2.0 Performance in Oral Literature
Chapter Two (2) 2.0 Performance in Oral Literature
Chapter Two (2) 2.0 Performance in Oral Literature
realise his goals. Oral Literature does not and cannot exist outside
emphasised.
performance in Oral Literature when she opines that “without its oral
to oral literature. This point is further buttress by Nkem Okoh who asserts
that:
existence and the oral artist or performer realises his importance in the
society because the oral artist recreates, critique and reflects on the
society.
situation becomes the only means by which the totality of the aesthetics
is through the performance context that we are able to see the beauty of
oral literature.
total act as well as the context and the environment involved in the
or artists and the audience. No two performances are ever the same,
every performance is a new piece of literature. Performance is therefore,
artist’s individual talent and creative imaginations, the artist finally breaks
enterprise.
process is by no means the same in all non literate countries or all types
distinct art, the performer as a key factor attracts the attention of critics.
refuting the assertion that oral art is a product of the community. Isidore
the culture of the people and a custodian of the norms and values of the
dressed in their traditional regalia and start the performance of the dance
accompanied by the rhythm from the xylophone by experienced and well
skilled players.
audience prescribe for the artist; they judge the authenticity of a tale as it
The audience in the Igeli dance of the Okworogung people are active,
The occasion for performance of the Igeli dance varies from one
context to another. The Igeli dance is solely performed for relaxation and
Igeli dance. The Igeli dance does not have a particular occasion hence,
performance of the Igeli dance. The performance of the Igeli dance does
but also on the audience that are present and active. The performer(s)
boo and clap for the performer(s) where and when necessary.
audience is near passive hence, only members of the dance group mime
and dramatise. The audience react to the performance when the dance
reaches its climax by clapping and cheering the performers to keep up the
audience gather and clap for the performer(s) for a performance well put
people, informative, educative and well cherished for its polished melody
went further to identify six elements, which constitute drama. These six
elements are plot, characters, theme, setting, music and diction. In any
art form that is classified as drama, these must be found aside. However,
3.1 PLOT
use of the term plot is similar to the use of the term structure. Thus,
without plot, there is no performance, so if the Igeli dance does not have
dance hence, the events in the art form are carefully and serially
costumes, the performance of the art form, which entails dancing and the
cheered for a good performance and booed or jeered at for a poor or bad
performance. All these have their peculiar time which constitute plot in
3.2 CHARACTERS
characters. The characters here ,refers to the people in the dance who
carry out the performance. This element is very important that, so long as
3.2.1 The Leader of the Dance: The leader of the dance is the
chief custodian of everything that has to do with the art form. He blows
their best and berate or scold those who are lazy or did not perform well
3.2.2 The Dancers: The dancers are the chief performers of the
art form. They are gorgeously dressed in their traditional regalia, which
help add colour and beauty to the performance. The dancers perform
two players and demonstrate using facial expressions and body gestures.
end of the xylophone. They beat the xylophone using wooden sticks
usually four (two for each) to produce sounds and rhythm which the
because when the beating of the xylophone is fast, the dancers’ steps are
also fast and when it is slow, the dancers’ steps are slow. They are
usually monitored by the leader of the art form who blows his whistle to
performance.
3.3 THEMES
element of drama found in the Igeli dance cannot be overruled, as the art
Okworogung. This shows that the Igeli deals with ideas, which are
predominant themes of the dance. The dancers perform this art form to
calls to mind how conscious and mindful the Okworogung people are in
maintaining peace and order thereby keeping the community safe from
3.3.2 Bravery: This is also one of the major themes found in the Igeli
dance as an art form. The founding fathers of this art form displayed
bravery by staying in the bush to safeguard their crops from the attacks
stand up to life’s challenges and defend the community when the need
arises. David Agba Ashu notes that "the stamping of the feet at some
3.4 SETTING
Setting refers to the time and place an action takes place that helps
members of the audience form a circle leaving the centre for the
performers. A raised platform is made for the elders to have proper view
of the performance. The audience are not allowed to mingle with the
has influenced the setting of the Igeli dance, but some items that
performance.
audience with the rich history of the Okworogung people. Some of the
costumes are:
a) A white singlet worn by male and female performers, which connotes
peace.
props are worn or carried by a particular actor, Set props are furniture
that adds to the look of the setting, and performers carry Hand props
along. The props in Igeli dance performance are very glaring and visible
a) Whistle: The whistle is usually carried by the leader of the dance and
hung around his neck. The leader uses the whistle at intervals to
b) Wooden Sticks: They are usually four in number, two for each
dance accordingly.
each end. The dancers dance according to the beats, rhythm and
(from Greek mimos meaning imitation or actor) is also a person who uses
acting out a story through body motions without the use of speech.
mime dance hence, dancers or performers do not play any music or song
but only dance according to the sounds and rhythm produced by the
xylophone. The performers of this art form only change their dance steps
when the players change the rhythm and sounds of the xylophone.
emotions, the audience understand more about how the performers are
leader of the performance, through his whistle (in most cases) sending a
performance, the leader also blows his whistle telling the performers to
revealing their bare chest, (male) displaying their muscles and assuming a
audience.
CHAPTER FOUR
The Igeli dance has a peculiar style which is usually followed before
players. After this, the xylophone players come to the venue or scene of
performance and sit at the opposite end of the xylophone facing each
using the wooden sticks which are usually four in number, two for each
players, thereby producing sounds, rhythm and beats. The sounds and
beats is an invitation for the dancers to enter the arena and start dancing
playground and start performing. They dance according to the beats and
sounds produced by the xylophone and also change their dance steps
when the sounds and beats from the xylophone changes. The tempo of
custodian of the dance. The players determine the way in which the
slowly and by producing fast beats which the dancers follow accordingly.
The chief custodian of the dance blows his whistle when necessary to
in accordance with the beats and sounds from the xylophone. The leader
or chief custodian of the dance urges the performers to put up their best,
audience and pay homage to the gods for providing them with
instruments to drive away birds and other wild animals that destroys
The stylistic features of Igeli dance are the literary qualities which can
be found in the performance of the art form. These features are very
important hence they reflect and showcase the cultures and traditions of
are peculiar to the members of the audience and the community at large.
and allusion.
4.2.2 Symbolism.
According to David Agba Ashu, the chief custodian of the dance, some of
the symbols as used in the Igeli dance and their meaning are as follows:
4.2.2.1 Palm-Wine
4.2.2.2 Kolanuts
ground alongside palm wine inviting the ancestors to come partake in the
the farm and ward off wild animals. The whistle is a symbol of silence
when blown.
4.2.3 Onomatopoeia.
is beaten, the sound that comes from it echoes and paints a mental
The sound from the xylophone is onomatopoeic, that is, it echoes and re-
echoes continually in the minds of the dancers and the audience. The
sounds are not repetitive but are carefully produced following the rhythm
4.2.4 Digression.
4.2.5 Allusion.
performance of the Igeli dance, some of the dance steps and items used
According to David Agba Ashu, the chief custodian of the art form, the
the wooden object used at the founding stage. The sounds generated by
the xylophone allude to the noise made by the wooden object which
helped in driving away birds and other wild animals from destroying the
crops. The art form was initially meant to scare away birds and other wild
animals from destroying crops in the farm, but the dance has been
Since the art form is a mimed performance, the major ways in which
emotions and feelings through the use of the face when performing. The
performers of this art form have learned and mastered different facial
4.3.2 Gestures.
Gestures are a form of non-verbal communication in which visible
during the performance of the art form. Members of the audience and the
performer can indicate that he is thirsty by throwing back his head and
putting his cupped hands on his mouth thereby requesting water or palm
The Igeli dance of the Okworogung people do not just reflect the
cultures and traditions of the people but also have some social
norms and values which usually determine the social attitudes of the
clearly seen in the dance steps and the costumes and paraphernalia used
during the performance of the dance. The stamping of the feet by the
performers signifies bravery and strength, palm wine represent peace and
unity.
from far and near to witness the performance, hence, the community
palm wine. In some cases, the dance troupe are invited and paid for their
SUMMARY
This research work has extensively dealt with the analysis of the
Igeli dance taking into consideration the stylistic qualities and elements of
Okworogung people and the origin and development of the Igeli dance.
the dance.
drama.
performance.
Finally, chapter five deals with the social significances of the dance
CONCLUSION
sense that some musical instruments are now out of use, however, the
elements such as setting, plot, characters, themes and mime are in the
other features both to entertain and educate and to fulfil some form of
cultural expectations.
WORKS CITED
Aristotle, The Poetics, ed. Allan H. Gilbert, Eight Edition, Detroit: Wayne
State University Press, 1982.
2012.
EBchecked/topic/150714/dance/25694/music. accessed on
on
Department
Case
Theatre
Portharcourt:
www.encyclopaediabritannica/art/gestures.com.
www.encyclopaediabritannica/art/mime.com.
Wikipedia.com
LIST OF INTERVIEWEES
Gender: Male
Age: 60yrs.
Utugwang.
Gender: Male.
Age: 63yrs.
Calabar.
Name: Mr Mfam Jacob.
Gender: Male.
Age: 57yrs.
Status: Farmer.
Utugwang.
Gender: Male.
Age: 70yrs.
Utugwang.