Odo initiation rites as a paradigm of nonpareil art entrepreneurship

Abstract

The Odo masking- a cultural heirloom is a biennial observance and a celebratory umbrella where the dead (masquerade) and the living celebrate and communicate in the same vicinity and a vehicle through which the community exerts and propagate their cultural and artistic heritage. The period creates an explosion of artistic engagements, glut of art works and empowerment opportunities for the teeming youths and adults to lead self-reliant and employment generation. Legion of scholars have written extensively on Odo masquerade and masking in various ways but scarcely discussed the entrepreneurial implications of the epoch making events. Therefore, this paper seeks to critically investigate Odo masking initiation Rites as a paradigm of nonpareil art entrepreneurship. It focuses on the entrepreneurial implications of the creativity existing in Odo initiation Rites and masking. The styles, methods, symbolism, tools and materials for productions will be extensively discussed. Survey design will be employed for the study. Findings reveal that creative potentialities of Odo cult members have been reawakened, empowered and became carvers, weavers, painters and craft men after participation. In fact, Odo initiation Rites as a paradigm of nonpareil art entrepreneurship should be encouraged and not to be seen with scorn in its entirety as a fetish, frivolous, and benighted cultural art enterprise.