UNIZIK JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HUMAN RELATIONS

The place of culture in human society cannot be underestimated. Culture is the nucleus of a people’s life. It establishes everything about them: Their language, food, dress pattern, arts, value system, occupation and general ways of life. In Africa, culture and the people are inseparable entities with symbiotic relationships. None of which exists without the other. Recent developments around African landscape have however resulted in the decay and general extinction of many rich cultural values. One of the most affected in Ekpeye Ethnic Nationality of Rivers State, Nigeria is the Nwokologbo Dance; An age long cultural dance performance which the people find deep expression in. This study adopted both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to investigate the previous and recent performances of Nwokologbo dance to arrive at its results. After a copious analysis of available data, it was discovered that apart from a recent performance of Nwokolobo dance in 2016 and 2018 by Ogbo community on the invitation of Total E &P, Nwokolobo dance has not been in practice in Ekpeye land for over 35 years. There is also no significant attempt at reviving the dance culture. The study examined western dynamism and lack of succession plan as some of the causes of extinction of this revered culture. The study recommended that, the Supreme Council of Ekpeye Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, as well as the elites should plan to re-introduce and regulate the modus operandi of Nwokolobo cultural dance in Ekpeye land as to avoid extinction. It is also recommended that the Nigerian government at various levels and other critical stakeholders in Nigeria should take deliberate steps at making the Nwokologbo culture to be internationally competitive.

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