Nkwa Umuagbogho

Nkwa Umuagbogho

Nkwa Umuagbogho is one of the identities of my home town Ehugbo (Afikpo) in Ebonyi State. It is a dance steps performed by young maidens of Ehugbo.

The Nkwa Umuagbogho is a very big instrument used by the defunct East Central State to entertain prominent Igbo and their guests during big occasions.

About the Nkwa Umuagbogho.

The dance group starts with the instrumentalists, who are set in place, at a convenient spot well clear of space reserved for the dancers with definite signs of organization immediately apparent. Then the lead-instrumentalist sounds a few introductory notes to announce that all is ready to begin the performance. The other instruments join in, and this is the signal for the dancers to fall out (into line).
The dancers arrange themselves under the direction of the leader. The initial movements are slow swaging steps. After a while, the complicated movements begin and gradually the dancers work up to full pitch. As the speed of the drumming and dancing increase, so does the excitement and fascination felt by the spectators. The dance also involves extraordinary and prolonged series of body contortions executed at high speed. Absolute uniformity of movement is expected of the dancers.
There is always a leader among the dancers. She makes a different movement, which acts as a signal. The performers take the cue, twisting, turning and leaping. They go through a series of rigorous dance movements, and dramatic displays which are bewildering to watch, and which entail great physical strain.

In those days, damsels abundantly blessed with the beauty of nature led the dance group. Popular was the dance group that a story had it that the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe met his beloved wife, prof Uche Azikiwe at one of the outings of the Nkwa Umuagbogho.

It should be noted that the Nkwa Umuagbogho Dance group has won several awards and accolades; gained local, national and international recognitions and maintained leadership status for quite a long period of time.

Thanks for reading.