JODCAAT Volume 2 Number 5 2025

THE QUESTION OF TRADITION OR CONTEMPORANEITY: A STUDY OF THE IGBO NKPO?KI?TI? DANCE

Ajaegbu, Charles Obinna Tochukwu J. Okeke, PhD.
Abstract

Nkpo?ki?ti?, the iconic Igbo dance performance, embodies the rich cultural heritage and artistic excellence of the Igbos Despite its vibrancy, Nkpo?ki?ti? is often regarded merely as a traditional dance, thereby undermining the creative and artistic ingenuity of its originators. This paper, therefore, interrogates the nature of the Nkpo?ki?ti? dance with a view to situating it as an artistic choreographic piece within a broader creative context.Through Literature review, the study finds that Nkpo?ki?ti? dance is a fusion of traditional, modern, and contemporary movements. It concludes that the dance should not be confined solely to traditional boundaries, as its evolving nature serves as a vital source of cultural preservation.

Keywords: contemporaneity, dance, igbo, nkpo?ki?ti?, question, study, tradition
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