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Rituals as Dance and Dance as Rituals. The Drama of Kok Nji and Other Festivals in the Religious Experience of the Ngas, Mupun and Mwaghavul in Nigeria

Umar Habila Dadem Danfulani

Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis 1996 DOI: 10.30674/scripta.67222 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Historical analysis Peer reviewed
Population Ngas, Mupun, and Mwaghavul Chadic-speaking peoples
Citations 1
Key points Argues that the annual festivals of the ancestors (kok nji), cropping (kop), harvesting (dyip), and hunting (kwat) among Chadic-speakers, including the Ngas, Mupun, and Mwaghavul, function as ritual dramas that symbolically and overtly express religious experience, feelings, and emotions buried in the people's religious consciousness.

Abstract

Chadic-speakers perform annual festivals of the ancestors, kok nji; cropping kop; harvesting, dyip and hunting kwat, which are usually accompanied by dancing, singing and other numerous rites and rituals. These ritual dramas symbolically and overtly express the religious experience, feelings and emotions that are deeply buried in the religious consciousness of the people. This article intends to provide a vivid description of some of these festivals, particularly those of the Ngas, Mupun and Mwaghavul.