Iwu Festival Dancers
Erosion of Ibusa’s Traditional Naming System: A Casualty of Westernization
By Emeka Esogbue
The Ibusa people of Nigeria once cherished their vibrant festivals, which showcased music, dance, cultural exhibitions, and community gatherings beyond the present. These events brought the community together, commemorating significant occasions like harvests, cleansing, and the traditional New Year. Festivals like Iwu, Ulo, and Ine/Ichu Ekwensu were integral to Ibusa’s cultural identity.
The festivals’ vibrant celebrations have always been inclusive, welcoming women to participate freely alongside men. Historically, women have played a vital role in enriching the festivities with their energetic dance performances and joyful spirits. This tradition continues to thrive, as women still participate in large numbers in the Iwu Festival. Although their traditional roles may be limited, their presence is essential to the festival’s completeness, adding depth and richness to the cultural display. Our festivals have consistently promoted gender inclusivity, in the revelry.
The Ibusa festivals have the characteristics of music and dance performances, decorations and colourful display as seen in Iwu Festival; cultural exhibitions and demonstrations in Ulo Festival; and parades and processions in Ine or Ichu Ekwensu of Ezukwu. The patterned dance of the spirits is also seen in the Iwu Festival. These are some of the features the spectators find interesting.
Traditionally, children born during these festivals were named after the festivals, reflecting the community’s strong connection to their heritage. Examples include Okine (Ine Festival), Okulo (Ulo Festival), Okiwu (Iwu Festival), Adine, and Adulo (female versions). Any festival that welcomed children had the children bear the name of the festival because such infants were thought to be lucky and blessings to the community.
They were considered as children who decided to arrive to the world at a time that their people were celebrating. Connected to the festivals by name and nostalgia, they were memories of the people’s festivities and signs that the festivals were sources of blessings.
This practice was not unique to Anioma’s Ibusa; similar naming traditions existed among other Nigerian ethnic groups and even in Zimbabwe’s Shona community. In Akwa-Ibom and Cross Rivers States, Nigeria, children born in the period of Ekpe Festival are named Ekpe or Ekpeyong.
However, colonialism, Christianity, and Western civilization have negatively impacted Ibusa’s cultural practices. The indigenous naming system, rooted in oral tradition and festival cycles, has given way to external influences. As a result of which younger generations are ashamed to bear traditional names having to do with their festivals.
The traditional names associated with Ibusa’s festivals, such as Adine, Okine, Adulo, and Okiwu, are fading away as elderly bearers pass on without successors. Even festival leaders now prefer Western names like Christian, Gloria, Israel, and Samuel for their children, abandoning heritage names. Westernization has eroded the cultural significance of festivals, making it challenging to find spectators.
Christianity, introduced through Western influence, labels traditional celebrations as pagan or barbaric, leading to names like Okine and Adulo being shunned. Ironically, Western names like Jeremiah, Deborah, and Moses are embraced, despite some bearing these names being involved in undesirable activities. This cultural shift is striking, especially among African festival leaders now bearing names like Isaiah, Augustine, or Kenneth.
Put differently, the Ibusa’s traditional festival names (Adine, Okine, Adulo) are disappearing as Westernization and Christianity replace cultural heritage. Even festival leaders prefer names like Christian, Gloria, or Moses, distancing themselves from ancestral roots.
The price of embracing westernization is the erosion of cultural heritage, a loss that profoundly affects the Ibusa community.
Ibusa’s prehistoric dating system, reliant on oral tradition, agricultural seasons, stories, myths, legends, and genealogical records, has been compromised. The loss of this naming system threatens the community’s cultural heritage and historical memory.
It is essential to acknowledge and preserve Ibusa’s cultural legacy, recognizing the importance of traditional naming practices in maintaining community identity and historical continuity. This can be achieved if the custodians of the culture and other members of the traditional institution in the community, take the lead in advancing the core essence of their culture.
