Documenting drums and drum language in Ibibio traditional ceremonies

The Endangered Language Documentation Programme (ELDP) provides grants worldwide to for the linguistic documentation of endangered language and knowledge. Grantees create multimedia collection of endangered languages. These collections are preserved and made freely available through the Endangered Languages Archive (ELAR) housed at the library of SOAS University of London.

The use of drums and drum language is a phenomenon found in most African, Asian and other continents of the world. it is a valuable means of communication for man right from the traditional era into the contemporary times. Among the Ibibios of the south-south Nigeria, the use of drum and its language though essential in most traditional ceremonies is greatly endangered. This documentation will make use of the following research methods: Participant observation structured and unstructured interviews, focus group among others. This research is significant because it will revitalize and document essential elements in the culture of the people. Primary investigator: Bassey Okon

Project Details


Location: Nigeria, Western Africa, Africa Organiser(s): Endangered Languages Documentation Programme Project partner(s): University of Calabar Funder(s): Arcadia Funding received: £8,704.00 Commencement Date: 01/2008
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