Music and associated ceremonies displayed during Ugie (festival) in the Royal Court of Benin Kingdom, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the Oba of Benin Royal Ugie ceremonies, which is an annual religious and cultural event celebrated by the Benin speaking people of Edo State, Nigeria. As a communal and spiritual activity, the Oba and people of Benin kingdom mark the Ugie festivals with Musical and dance performances. Within this context, the study adopts the historical and participant approaches as its method of contending that some events during the Oba of Benin Royal Ugie festival ceremonies are colorful theatrical performances. The organizational structure of the Oba of Benin Palace as it relates to the observance of Ugie festival ceremonies is also discussed in this research. This study also examines the role Ewini music plays in the various Oba of Benin Royal Ugie festival ceremonies, thereby looking at its origin, socio-cultural context, formation procedure, instrumentation, and organizational set-up. This research also recommends different ways in which music practitioner can benefit by applying a theatrical approach to the study of these royal Ugie ceremonies and its music and also the ability of the festival ceremonies to continue to act as an instrument of stability and unity for the people of Benin kingdom, by bringing people from different walks of life together during the performance at Ugie ceremonies. For clarity, all non-english words are defined in the glossary section on page 73.