Authors
Alonge, Isaac Olusola, PhD
Bolarinwa, Abidemi, PhD
Omotayo, Paul Olaoluwa, PhD
Arinpe, G. Adejumo, PhD
Abstract
Yorùbá culture, traditional festivals play a vital role in cultural and religious expressions, yet many of these festivals, particularly those celebrated at the grassroots level, remain undocumented and underexplored in scholarly discourse. While considerable academic attention has been given to widely known festivals such as ÒsunÒsogbo, Mórèmí, OjúdeỌba and Èyò, among others, localised festivals like Ewì-Olóòrè-Ògìdìgbò remain largely ignored, despite their rich performative and religious content. This gap has created a limited understanding of the diverse forms of indigenous performance embedded within Yorùbá religious festivals. This study, therefore, investigates the role of performance as a central feature of Ewì-Olóòrè-Ògìdìgbò Festival, jointly celebrated in Ìpòlè-Ìlòrò and Ulé-Ahùn, two neighbouring communities in Èkìtì State, Nigeria. The study aims to identify and analyse the performance codes within the festival and to interpret their cultural and symbolic meanings. It adopts a descriptive and analytical methodology, relying on participant observation, oral interviews with custodians, and textual analysis. The theoretical framework is based on Performance Theory, particularly as propounded by Richard Schechner, which views performance as a culturally structured and socially embedded act. Findings reveal that the festival incorporates multiple layers of performance such as chants, dances, rituals, masquerade displays, symbolic objects, and processions, each with its own spiritual and communal function. The festival not only serves as a platform for worship but also a platform for artistic expression, historical memory, and communal solidarity. It is recommended that conscious efforts be made to document, preserve, and promote such festivals, as they remain vital to the continuity of Yorùbá cultural identity and indigenous performance traditions
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