Each community in Abia State has different festivals celebrated in
honour of its gods and goddesses, or to mark important events. The
beginning of the planting season as well as the harvest season is
celebrated annually. The New Yam festival, celebrated as thanksgiving to
God (Chukwu) by everyone, is pervasive in lgbo land.
Works of art produced in the state include carved doors, stools, walking
sticks, traditional flutes, mortars, gongs and pestles. One work of ari
particularly worthy of note is the traditional "Akwete' cloth of Ukwa
East. In Abia State, different types of music abound to suit various
occasions. There is music for work, leisure, childbirth, funeral, and
for different festivals. Much of the traditional music is a combination
of the vocal and instrumental artistry which produces a tuneful melody.
Musical instruments such as the gong, iar, leather drums, wooden drums,
traditional flute the (Oja), earthen-pot drums and a host of percussion
instruments abound. Some famous traditional lit- music and dances are
the Ekpe dance in Arochukwu; the Bende and Ohafia war dance; and the
Egwu Ukwu (waist dance) of Isiala Ngwa.
An outline of the lgbo cultural heritage will be incomplete without a
word or two of the lgbo traditional hospitality to visitors. This is
reflected in the presentation of kolanuts to visitors. The kolanut
signifies that the visitors are heartily welcome. The rituals of the
presentation of the kolanut are consummated with the offering of prayers
and thanks- giving or request to the supreme God and other deities for
the protection of the visitor and the host. |
