THE ELASTIC NATURE OF KOKOMA DANCE

Ikike Inieke Ufford

doi:10.29121/shodhshreejan.v3.i1.2026.83

Authors

Dr. Ikike Inieke Ufford Department of Theatre and Media Studies, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhshreejan.v3.i1.2026.83

Keywords:

Dance, African Community, Cultural Identity, Performance, Sensitization, Healing, Entertainment, Worship

Abstract [English]

Dance has been a veritable activity in any African community. This is because it carries along the basic relics of a people's cultural life. As a performance, it is a tool for sensitization, healing, entertainment and worship. Some dances are rigidly designed with some motifs that may not accept changes, while others allow for few changes in form and design. However, the ones that resist change fade away or become boring to the people, those that accept changes face the threat of erosion of basic nuances that build up the cultural identity of the people. The latter is essential in retaining the interest of the people even in Diasporas. These changes can only satisfy the people's desires when their identity is preserved and celebrated. Kokoma dance sustains ancestral rhythmic forms and body movements of the African designed to explore the flexible and alluring sensitive nature of his body. Kokoma dance is elastic and accommodates all forms of movements. However, these movements must be executed within the flow of a unique musical form called Kokoma.

References

Akamere, M. (1990). The Art of Dance. Afa Press Publishers.

Aye, E. U. (2000). The Efik People. Ciled Tidiys Press.

Bakare, O. (2000). Rudiments of Choreography (Part 1). Space Publishers Ltd.

Camp, J. (1996). Non-verbal metaphor: A non-explanation of meaning in dance. British Journal of Aesthetics, 36(2), 177–187. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjaesthetics/36.2.177

Cook, T. L. (1965). An Integrated Phonology of Efik (Doctoral dissertation).

Copeland, R. (1983). What Is Dance? Readings in Theory and Criticism. Oxford University Press.

Doubler, M. N. H. (1992). Dance: A Creative Art Experience. University of Wisconsin Press.

Ejike, M. (2001). History of Local Dance. Ele Publishers.

Emem, E. (1975). Nigerian dances. Nigerian Magazine, Festival Issue (No. 5).

Enekwe, O. (1991). Theories of Dance in Nigeria. Afra Press.

Hana, V. C. (1998). Choreographed Dance. Hymen Publishers.

Harris, J., and Pitman. (1999). Dance a While: Handbook of Folk, Square, Contra and Social Dance (6th ed.). Macmillan Publishing Company.

Hawkins, A. M. (1988). Creation Through Dance. Princeton Book Publishers.

Laban, R. (1976). Modern Educational Dance (3rd ed.). Macdonald and Evans.

Nadel, M. (1978). The Dance Experience. Universe Books.

Nair, K. K. (1972). Politics and Society in South-Eastern Nigeria.

Nketia, J. H. K. (1974). The Music of Africa. W. W. Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-02177-6.

Primus, P. (1996). African dance. In African Dance: An Artistic, Historical and Philosophical Inquiry. African World Press.

Sachs, C. (2014, August 7). Curt Sachs. Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Curt-Sachs

Sheets, M. (1967). The Phenomenology of Dance. The University of Wisconsin Press.

Sorell, W. (1979). Dance. In L. Shores (Ed.), Collier's Encyclopedia. Macmillan Corporation.

Udo, U. (2002). Dance and social control: An appraisal. Seminar paper presented at Dance Ville, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Ufford, I. (2001). Definition of Dance and Its Origin (Unpublished seminar paper). Department of Theatre Arts, University of Calabar.

Ufford, I. I. (2011). Dance and society: Matters arising. PARNASSUS: University of Uyo Journal of Cultural Research, 7, 252.

Ufford, I. I. (2014). An examination of controversial marriage of music and dance in contemporary Nigerian performances. Dance Journal of Nigeria, 1(1), 79.

Ufford, I. I. (2016). Mbiam ritual institution, libation and injunction as cultural practices for enforcing good governance. WAACLALS: West Africa Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies, 4(1), 148.

Ufford, I. I. (2020). The evaluation of dance culture of Akwa Ibom people. AKSUJA: Akwa Ibom State University Journal of Arts, 2(1), 486.