Written by David Ugbabe
Dance is an integral part of the culture of the Idoma people who are the second largest tribe in Benue State. One of its unique festivals is the Odumu Festival, a masquerade dance festival that is commonly performed by the people independent of their religion or societal status.
The Odumu Festival is a masquerade dance festival that is commonly performed in almost any Idoma community. The Idoma tribe is the second largest tribe in Benue State and has deep roots in its cultural practices. The Odumu Festive dance evolved as result of the love and quest of the ancestors to live a beautiful life capable of bringing peace.
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Mainly performed by hunters, the dance festival characterized by artistic display of dance steps signifies superiority, dignity and majesty which are attributed to the lion, king of the animals. The hunters who perform the festival in their hunting groups use the festive dance as a post-expedition triumph dance to depict the essence of their warlike nature or agility.
The word “Odumu” is translated as “lion”; the Odumu festival therefore ascribes the lion with attributes such as aggression, physical prowess and with majesty which they Idoma people cherish in men. The Odumu festival symbolizes the celebration of a successful hunt as would a lion when it captures its prey. Unlike other cultural festivals the Odumu Festival has no particular time of celebration as it can be celebrated anytime of the year.
