Promoting Environmental Sustainability: The Case ff "Umuada" Music and Dance of Ogidi Women
Conference: ISA 22nd Annual International Conference (2025)
Presenter(s): Awaih Adaora Unoma
Abstract
The women of Ogidi, a town in Anambra State, South Eastern Nigeria, are concerned about the environmental degradation of their community. They blame this unprecedented level of environmental destruction on non-observance of indigenous environmental protection measures, by contemporary members of the community. In other to draw attention to this aberration, during the annual 'lwa ji' also known as New Yam festival, one of the most important festivals in that community, the women staged a protest using music and dance to inspire action and call for strategic environmental stewardship. This study showcased how Ogidi women- 'Umuada', through music and dance were able to communicate environmental concerns and their impacts on the community stakeholders. Employing the participants observation research method, utilising songs , texts, dances and dramatic movements, the research examined the effectiveness of these instruments of communication for calling attention to environmental conservation and sustainable development. The findings reveal that communicating environmental stewardship becomes more efficient and resonates in memory of the people through artistic facades as reflected in the concepts and practices of the" Umuada". This study no doubt convey important understanding about indigenous ethnomusicology as an instrument of social orientation and behavioural change to climate change and sustainable management of African human and natural resources.
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