COSTUME AND MAKEUP ARTS IN TRADITIONAL NIGERIAN FESTIVALS: A STUDY OF OGBANIGBE FESTIVAL OF OBIOR IN DELTA STATE
Abstract
This research examines the role and significance of costume and makeup in traditional Nigerian festivals, with a focus on the Ogbanigbe Festival of Obior in Delta State, Nigeria. The study investigates the rules governing costume and makeup practices, the processes and materials involved in their creation, and the cultural meanings they convey. Through qualitative methods, including interviews, and visual analysis, the research uncovers how elements such as animal skin regalia, feathered caps, akwa olulu, nzu, cowries, staffs, shackles, and hand fans serve not only as aesthetic features but also as symbols of identity, status, and spirituality. Guided by Richard Schechner’s Performance Aesthetics Theory, the study reveals how costume and makeup contribute to the performative power and continuity of the festival. The research further explores the challenges and prospects of preserving these cultural practices in the face of modernization. It concludes by recommending strategies for sustaining the knowledge and transmission of traditional costume and makeup within the Obior community and beyond.
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.