MODERNITY AND ITS IMPACT ON EKUECHI FESTIVAL AMONG THE EBIRA-IHIMA OF KOGI STATE IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Celebration of festivals is an integral aspect of cultural lives of a society from the ancient time. In many African societies, culture represents a way of life. While some of these practices could be shrouded in mysteries, others are exhibited in the glare. Cultural practices vary from one society to another; they take place at different seasons, times and periods of the year, depending on their significance. This work attempts to examine one of such cultural heritage among the Ihima people in Okehi Local Government area of Kogi state, Nigeria. Ekuechi festival is one of the major cultural celebrations in Ihima which characteristically, features the coming out of masquerades accompanied with rituals, sacrifices, artistic display, music, pump and pageantry. However, over the years the usual glamour, rituals and
Read More