OHAZURUME Volume 2 Number 2 2023

THE VIEWS OF THE IBIBIO ON LIBATION

Aniekan Etim Nana
Abstract

The Ibibio people look at Libation as a means of reaching to the ancestors through invocation, incantation, and supplications to the divinities. They can also express their views through sacrifice, chants, rites and rituals. Performance of Libation has not been elaborately studied, relevant as it is in revealing the cultural values of the Ibibio people. This work, therefore, assesses the performance property and world view of Ibibio people in their libation performance. Ibibio libation performances are ritualistic, but some are more intense in contents and props. Performances from rural areas are more esoteric than those from the urban settings, spatial and temporal settings of the performances vary according to contest, while appeasement to deities is very sacrosanct. This work adopts a historical approach in analyzing the views of Ibibio on libation. That the Ibibio use schnapps for the appeasement of the divinities underscores Ibibio understanding of schnapps as a foreign drink. Similarly, coronation performances are performed at designated spiritual arenas, while routine worship, welcome, naming or puberty rites are performed at homes with performers dressed in traditional attires. The select texts exhibit repetition and metaphor as devices used in exploring narrative properties such as plea, confidence and affirmation. Libation performances in Ibibio society while utilizing symbolic drinks. Objects and props reflect the mores of the people. Thus, they reveal a communion with the divinities and ancestors manifested in

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