Contextualization of African Traditional Drama: A Study of Owu Festival of Amimo Etiti Omuma

Abstract

This discourse, Contextualization of African Traditional Drama: A Study of Owu Festival of Amimo Etiti Omuma, Imo State examines Owu Festival as a dramatic work within its context. It attempts to place it side by side with any other dramatic work elsewhere, with the core elements of drama inherent in the festival. The core elements of drama are examined in this study, and they are character/characterisation, stage and audience, which bring together all other elements such as costume, setting, plot etc. The theory used in this study is culturalism. The researcher relied on interviews, observation, discussions, audience participation during the festival and library materials   in conducting this research. The necessity of this research lies in the fact that traditional festivals are gradually going into extinction; therefore, such should be documented for the coming generation. The researcher realized that Owu festival has several acts and scenes, different spaces of performances, characters, audience, setting, and climax, so it is a complete dramatic work when measured with all of these elements and placed in its origin.