ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Top 5 traditional dances from eastern Nigeria

Top 5 traditional dances from eastern Nigeria

byNkem Ndem
August 11, 2015
2 min read
ADVERTISEMENT

Whether it’s celebratory, energizing, cathartic, funny, or just plain embarrassing, dance is one of the best art forms for expression. People gyrate in order to celebrate, commemorate or even to prepare for some ritual.

Historic and traditional dance goes back hundreds and even thousands of years. Nigeria has the treasure of a variety of folk and tribal dances in regions across the country. The eastern region, which consist mostly of the Igbo tribe, have a list of traditional dances performed as a form of emotional expression, social interaction, or exercise, in a spiritual or performance setting, and these dances are sometimes used to express ideas or tell a story.

When visiting the Eastern parts of Nigeria, check out Jovago’s list of top 5 local dances for some inspiration!

Ikpirikpi-ogu (War dance)

Commonly associated with the people of Abam in Arochukwu LGA, Abia State, Nigeria,Ikpirikpi-ogu is a dance of warriors. Originally performed to welcome soldiers back from tribal wars, it exudes an air of valor and is strictly performed by men. Today it’s purely symbolical to show the strength of a community and its conquest over collective challenges. It is performed at key festivals and community events.

Cultural-dancers

Atilogwu (Acrobatic Dance)

This is very similar to performances by cheerleaders in today’s western world. It is known as the ‘Acrobatic Dance” as it requires a lot of quick movements and calisthenics. It is mainly performed by the youth for entertainment at ceremonies or other events.

Nkwa umu-Agbogho (the Maiden dance)

RelatedNews

Buhari greets Oshunkeye, 2006 CNN African Journalist of the Year, at 65

U.S. COVID-19 cases rise as more states ease restrictions

Chad’s President wins reelection, extending 30 years in power

Chelsea, Man City, Real Madrid may be axed from Champions League

In a bid to attract suitors, this dance which involves rhythmic movements of the chest and waist, was performed by maidens who had come of age and were set to marry. It was a key aspect of the Igbo culture and was used to foster abstinence from sexual activities before marriage. In recent times, it is performed as a form of entertainment by young ladies with supple bodies.

Omuru-onwa and Agbacha-ekuru-nwa

This dance strictly performed by married women, generally involves responsive movement of the body, in a rhythmic  fashion to hip-swinging music. Married women and new mothers used such entertaining opportunities to exercise, lose weight, shed baby-fats and stay healthy through weekly rehearsals.

Igbo-War-Dance-300509-Adelaide

Mmanwu (masquerades)

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

Possibly the most popular dance in the Igbo culture, Mmanwu is celebrated across the entire Igbo landscape. In the ancient times, masquerades were seen as sacred as they either represented deities or were messengers sent by deities to deliver judgments or penalties on otherwise powerful people. They were untouchable; feared to be spirits.

It was assumed that during the Mmanwu dance, the spirit of the deity possessed the person wearing masquerade. The Mmanwu dance was and is still featured in most Igbo carnivals, celebrations and funerals including the New yam festival. Their performances are usually vibrant and mobile causing so audiences to move around in order to fully enjoy each.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (1)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Kebbi governorship election petition tribunal dismisses PDP petition

Next Post

N2.8 billion worth of drugs seized at Lagos airport — NDLEA

Nkem Ndem

Nkem Ndem

Nkem Vivienne is a Travel/Technology writer at Jovago.

More News

The Commercial space is as yet undeveloped within the airport departures area, two years after its opening.”

Reporter’s Diary: Abuja’s not so world-class new airport terminal

December 27, 2020
President Nana Akufo Addo and John Atta Mills

Dispatch From Accra: Ghanaians prepare to elect a president

December 6, 2020
Houses in Goma bordering Lake Kivu

TRAVELOGUE: Inside Goma: Dangerous city of diamonds, war and volcano

December 6, 2020
Segun Odegbami with Wole Soyinka at the Autonomous Republic of Ijegba

TRAVELOGUE: At home with Soyinka at the Autonomous Republic of Ijegba, By Segun Odegbami

November 29, 2020
TRAVELOGUE: Around Zamfara in seven days, By Femi Fani-Kayode

TRAVELOGUE: Around Zamfara in seven days, By Femi Fani-Kayode

July 26, 2020
lufthansa-airlines

Lufthansa plans job cut, to ground 500 aircraft by 2022

May 19, 2020
Next Post
Court grants Bi-Courtney right to take over Lagos airport terminal, as FAAN loses bid to stop it

N2.8 billion worth of drugs seized at Lagos airport -- NDLEA

What N180million being spent on upgrading Deputy Governor’s mansion can do for Kano

What N180million being spent on upgrading Deputy Governor's mansion can do for Kano

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


Explore Akwa Ibom Ad


Explore Akwa Ibom Ad


Access Bank Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,654,679 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
    • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.