Art Forms On Opoto Festival In Enugwu- Agidi
INTRODUCTION
1.1. BACKGROUND HISTORY OF ENUGWU-AGIDI
The Opoto festival belongs to an Igbo group in Southeastern Nigerian called Enugwu- Agidi it is at the center of Awka and Onitsha in Anambra state.
The people are known for farming because of their fertile land. Then also, they are known for timber trading because of the think rain forest that surrounds them.
Enugu –Agidi has so many festival which are known for its significant but the main cultural festival celebrated by Enugu Agidi in “Opoto Festival” Opoto festival is a celebration which is one every third month of the year ie March. This festival is annual done to bring all the people of Enugwu- Agidi people from far and wide together to that the gods of land and ancestors for keeping them throughout the past years and also for the new farming season which they are about to begin “Opoto” is a festival which after the celebration, anybody can now start to cultivate yam and if at all anybody live old yam in his farm it is entitled to anybody who comes across it.
The celebration starts which the chief priest of “Eke” (Eke Eke) made some consultation with the gods in which he asks when they want to have festival has been fixed and it must be “Eke” which is the day of the market in Enugwu- Agidi, the festival lasts for four days the first day is the to buy all the things needed for that day.
The next day, is the main day when the festival starts with some local food which are used in celebrating the festival properly prepared by that second day is the day in which the Mbubu Udo” masquerade will perform in the market square when manhood is being tested among various groups, using “Agba” then the “Ufuo” will be used in playing some melodies for them to dance to the tone the music. The third day is also the day when young boys who also come to pour libation to the gods by bringing yams kolanut, palmwine, alegator pepper and some other things to the chief priest which he blesses and gives them traditional chalk to draw at the center of the shrine (ITU NZU). The grand finally is the day for Afo Mmumi) by masquerade both from my farm and from other towns’ such Ukpo, Abagana Nnewi, Ukwuli etc. around us that is the day that women watch the way they move around because they are not expected to look at a masquerade directly. It is the men’s world now.
The music played the last day is known as “Abia” and no woman dances to its melody. If done, it is known as sacrilege and some sacrilege here to be done appease the gods on behalf of the festival.
The reason or significant of celebrating Opoto” Festival in Enugwu- Agidi are so many but the main ories to mark beginning of the farming season in which the gods of the land are appeased for keeping them to see and also to beg the gods of the land to give them more beautiful harvest farming season. This is done by making many sacrifices to the god of the ;land befor this festival commences. It is the chief priest of Eke od that announce the date of the festival which he always know by the reading the of the moon and consultation of the god on when they want the festival to take place.
Opoto is also meant to known the man that are men which means it is when method are being tested this is done by the boys which are of certain age grade to show who it is the king among them. They display some masquerade’s (Iga) which is known for (Ipa agba) this will be done when music from “Ufo” is being played. There is special step for dancing “Ufo” which is known by every male child in my town. The name “Ufo” is a wooden gong that is made up wood and its stand is made up metal. It is also during this festival that boys at the age of fifteen is initiated into the Mmanawu cult which means that the person is fit to display any type of masquerade in the markrt square during the festival such as Izaga, Evava, Obulu Nyi Mbulu Udo, Osiasili etc.
The masquerade has many costune that is made to make up the masquerade for example cawry, beads, Uvugwu Nza (Nama fail) Elephant tusk and masks. Some masquerade, however, do not employ masks or headpiece but there peaces is headen by the costune in which pignut beads or skin. Some masks are carved to represent the human faces while other slow rotesane features of criminals features like here in Enugu Ojonu, Okwonma, Izaga
Ijele, Simeon Ottenberg (1968) etc.
1.2 LIMITATION
Due to some finanvial deficiency and some personal engagement the researcher wasn’t able to scan more for information. Getting information involve travelling, spending of money ang even time. So some hidden necessary information and fact about this Opoto festival was gotten but at least the little gotten is enough to tell about the Opoto festival.
Title Page
Certification Page
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Preface
Table Of Content
Chapter One
1.0 Introduction:
1.1 Background History Of Enugu-Agidi
1.2 Statement Of Problem
1.3 Aims And Objective
1.4 The Scope Of The Project
1.5 Limitation Of The Project
Chapter Two
2.1 Literature Review
Chapter Three
3.0 Project Execution
3.1 Project Execution
3.2 Project Development
Chapter Four
4.1 Project Analysis
Chapter Five
5.1 Recommendation And Conclusion
References
The Title Page should be the first section of your project “Art Forms On Opoto Festival In Enugwu- Agidi”, providing essential details like the project title, your name, your supervisor’s name, the institution, and the submission date. After that, the Abstract offers a brief summary of your project, touching on its purpose, methods, results, and conclusions in 150-300 words. The Acknowledgments section is where you can thank those who supported your research, such as your supervisor, peers, or organizations that provided resources.
Next, the Table of Contents organizes the Art Forms On Opoto Festival In Enugwu- Agidi by listing its chapters and sections, along with page numbers for easy reference. The List of Figures and List of Tables help guide readers to specific visual elements like graphs, charts, or tables included in the document. There should also be an Abbreviations and Glossary section to explain any specialized terms or acronyms, making the content clearer to readers unfamiliar with the technical language.
The main body of the Art Forms On Opoto Festival In Enugwu- Agidi should start with the Introduction, which provides background information, outlines the research problem, states your objectives, and gives a brief overview of your research methods. Following that, the Literature Review offers an in-depth look at previous research relevant to your project, identifying gaps your study aims to address. The Methodology section then explains the research design, tools, and data collection methods you used to conduct the project and analyze the data.
In the Results and Discussion section, you present your findings and discuss them in relation to the Art Forms On Opoto Festival In Enugwu- Agidi research questions or objectives, often using tables or charts to help explain the data. The Conclusion summarizes the key results, discusses their implications, and suggests possible directions for future research. You may also include recommendations based on your findings, offering practical advice for improvements or applications. Finally, the Art Forms On Opoto Festival In Enugwu- Agidi project should include a References or Bibliography section to list all the sources you cited, as well as Appendices for any additional material. A Statement of Originality is often included to confirm the authenticity of your work