Studies in Nigerian Dance, No. 1
odd: label: Local Number
content: HSFA 1982.11.1
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Speed, Francis
label: Collection Creator
content: Harper, Peggy
setName: label: See more items in
content: Francis Speed films
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Film reel (11 minutes, black-and-white sound; 400 feet, 16mm)
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1966
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Human Studies Film Archives
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Film reels
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Edited film documents three variations of icough, a dance style which, at the time of filming, was popular among women's dance ensembles of southern Tiv country. Icough dances are performed at marriage ceremonies, for the entertainment of visitors, and on important social occasions to enhance the prestige of those who sponsor these performances. Such dance groups are also commonly seen at the five-day markets in the villages surrounding Gboko and Aliade, Nigeria. Shot in Gboko, the first dance is performed by an ensemble from Mbahor village and the second and third dances by an ensemble from Mbawon village. Whatever the variation sequence of movements, the outstanding feature of icough dancing is the sustained and controlled quality of the flow of movement through the body as dancers pass through the basic positions of the dance. Musical accompaniment is by an agbande drum ensemble.

Legacy Keywords: Dancing women gestures kinesics arm movements ; Choreography dance ; Drumming men ululations rattles ; Drumming rhythms ululations flute polymusicality ; Instruments musical instruments ; Rites and ceremonies ; Music ; Language and culture