Theatre and Anthropology in Amo Runzu <i>Iyani</i> Farming Festival of North Central Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigates the theatrical and anthropological aspects of Amo Runzu Farming festival with the aim of unearthing its  aesthetics. It is a festival that has existed since time immemorial and has started losing its substance and significance as a result of lack of  documentation. Farming festivals in Africa that are theatrical have not received meaningful attention from writers/ critics in validating  the aesthetics that such festivals offer the artistic space. This paper utilizes anthropology in the style of Turner and Schechner to validate  the salient and critical aspects that Amo Runzu Iyani farming festival gives out for analysis. Anthropology and ontology touch on social  relations and culture, and the nature and relations of being. The paper attempts to answer questions through a narrative style of  presentation, such as: What is Iyani? What are the performance idioms in Iyani? How can Iyani be more beneficial in a contemporary  competitive artistic space of today? An idiom is a language that is peculiar to a people but theatre has a way of mediating through any activities that are spectacular and have the potentials and vivacity of appealing to other people transcending their sociological and  traditional audience spaces. This paper uses a sociological approach in investigating Iyani festival in order to evaluate the substance that  is theatrical and anthropological in the festival. Consequently, the paper will be of benefit theatre practitioners and anthropologists.