ABSTRACT

Umulumgbe is a community in the South Eastern sub-tribe of the Igbo of Nigeria. They are known for their strong belief in the Supreme Being who is known as Chukwu Okike – the Creator and in the ancestors. Although they believe in other smaller gods, their reverence to the ancestors is apparent in the way they perform their Odo masquerade and struggle to sustain it. These ancestors who are known dead relatives in the community visit the living every two years and stay with them for a period of six months in the form of Odo masquerade. Umulumgbe Odo masquerade ritual performance is an art form that reflects the creative and imaginative work of the people of Umulumgbe. The performance provides an avenue for the participants to dramatize how their belief in the afterlife has contributed to their social and psychological wellbeing, especially, during the loss of a loved one. This study also concentrates on how the participants utilize this performance as an opportunity to promote peace, unify the people, and solidify communal bonds. Umulumgbe Odo masquerade performance is a social drama in nature, occupying the space between the real and the imagined, focusing on the continuation of life after physical death in the spiritual world.

摘要

Umulumgbe 是尼日利亚伊博人东南部亚部落的一个社区。他们以对被称为Chukwu Okike的至高存在的强烈信仰而闻名- 创造者和祖先。尽管他们信奉其他较小的神灵，但他们对祖先的敬意在他们执行Odo假面舞会并努力维持这种假面的方式中可见一斑。这些在社区中被称为已故亲属的祖先每两年拜访活人，并以Odo化装舞会的形式与他们呆六个月。乌穆卢姆贝奥多化装舞会表演是一种体现乌穆卢姆贝人创造性和想象力的艺术形式。表演为参与者提供了一个途径，让他们可以戏剧化地展示他们对来世的信仰如何促进了他们的社会和心理健康，尤其是在失去亲人的时候。本研究还关注参与者如何利用这种表演作为促进和平、团结人民和巩固社区纽带的机会。Umulumgbe Odo化妆舞会表演本质上是一种社会剧，占据了真实与想象之间的空间，专注于精神世界中肉体死亡后生命的延续。