African Culture and Communication Systems in the Coronation of Ata Igala, North- Central Nigeria

Abstract

African culture cannot be detached from the mode of communication of Africans. In this study, the writer examined the aspects of African culture communicated during the coronation of the 27th Ata Igala of Kogi State, North-central Nigeria. The study was motivated by the fact that the Ata, Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni, rather than modernize his installation, went back to the olden-day practice of coronation rites. It therefore became a re-enactment of African culture in Igala land, which called for investigation on its semblance with the patterns of communication in the distant past. Using ethnographic approach, the researcher employed participant observation and interviewing to understand the process and how it communicated African culture. The study revealed that the coronation had an extensive use of African communication systems in the exercise. Those traditional modes of communication are still very effective and can be properly harnessed into a platform for cultural communication among the elite. The study therefore recommends that other African nations should imbibe the cultures of their fore-fathers, the modern technology and media imperialism not withstanding, because they reflect the true identity of the African generation. It also recommends that the mass media should be used in championing the African culture, transmitting them and showcasing their richness.

Key words: African Communication, African Culture, Ata Igala, Coronation,