Semiotic Examination of the Technical Elements in Ichahoho Masquerade of Idoma People

Abstract

In Africa, masquerade tradition is deemed to be a representation of invoked spirits for the society. This makes masquerades a communal agenda with a collaboration of various laws, arts and act to play the role of representing and protecting the society. In this paper, participant-observation, descriptive and interview research methods were adopted as our research methodology. Secondary data were obtained from relevant journal articles, books and internet sources. The paper set to specifically identify the features and characteristics of technical aesthetics in the Ichahoho Masquerade of Idoma land also examine the functional essence of technical aesthetics in the performance and performance process. Findings in this study are that, the masquerade society is primarily concerned with the protection of the people and the maintenance of law and order and that there have been serious modifications to the masquerade society and the masquerade forms to suite the ldoma people within the changing time. It is recommended that, there should be proper documentation and research into the traditional materials used in the masquerade and performances to bring about development and exposure of indigenous culture to the world.