FESTIVAL AS MEANS OF COMMEMORATION OF THE ANCESTORS IN IDOMA LAND

Abstract

The Idoma people have been exposed to various festivals, like Eje–Alekwu, ancestral wine festivals, the earth wine festival, the funeral and chief installation. Ceremonies are considered serious occasions that demand sacrifices and rituals. These festivals which have the potential to shape their cultural identity and world view. The problem addressed in this study is that, the advent of Christianity and Islam in Idoma land truncated their religious and cultural tenets which rendered the contemporary Idoma to neglect their belief and cultural identity in festival within this community. The study aims to shed light on the cultural festival and religious practices of the Idoma people. The research employs qualitative analysis of the religious and cultural belief of the people. The research also incorporates a historical analysis of the Idoma people and their religious and cultural transformation. The study investigates the historical and socio–cultural background of Idoma people, exploring the religious beliefs and practices that contribute to their cultural identity. The study concludes that religion is significant in shaping the cultural identity of the Idoma people.