Atilowgu and its rhythmic bravura

By Gloria Ikibah

Music and dance are fundamentals to the African way of life. Beyond a simple means of artistic expression, dances are sacred, holding deeply symbolic meanings and significance. Furthermore, a wide variety of musical patterns form the basis of dance in Africa.

In Nigeria, the Eastern part is endowed with a rich cultural heritage, traditional festivals and dances which proclaim the coming and exit of the various seasons of the year. These include major celebrations like the Ofala, Iri ji, Oku Owa-Ito, Okochi, Udu-Mii, Mgba Ndi-Omu, Mgba Une n’Une and Mgba Ogwu to mention a few.

Some of the most famous Igbo dances include, Atilogwu, Abigbo, Egwu Amala, Egwu Ogene, Ode, Odebara, Nkwa, Mkpokiti, Akwunechenyi, Nkwa Umuagbogho, Nkwa Nwite, Ikorodo, Egwu Ubo, Okanga, Egedege, Adamma, Mgbaga, Agbacha Ekuru Nwa, Egwu Ijele, Ntukpo, Odegelu, Igede and Igba-Udugongo.

One of such dances is the Atilogwu dance, regarded as the national dance of the Igbo people. It is a vigorous dance which literally means “Is this magic?” and combines elements of gymnastics with foot-stomping rhythms and brilliant costume colours. Atilogwu is Fast and energetic, it is done with acrobats.

Atilogwu is a traditionally spirited youth dance from the Igbo ethnic group of Nigeria that focuses on vigorous body movement and often includes acrobatics.

The name stems from rumours that bewitchment or magic potions had to be involved if the children of the village could perform so exuberantly and energetically, while making it look so effortless. The tempo of the dance matches the tempo of the music, which is dependent on the beat of the drum and “ogene,” a metal gong instrument.

The dance is usually performed during festivals and the festivity will also include exotic dishes created from authentic Nigerian recipes, served buffet style.

Atilogwu is an amalgamation or montage of five dances namely; Anam, Ogwulogwu, Anaku, Ochanja and Adunjanja but for some others, it is that of Mgbaga, Ogwulogwu, Otiokpokpo, Ochufulu and Egwu-Igba. It dominates every other dance in Igbo land because of its superlative tempos and physical energetic movements formed from embellishments and adjustments of the afore-mentioned dances.

It is a dance of the youths in the society who undergo rigorous training before presenting the dance in public. Once approved, the dance is performed during important festivals and great social occasions.

Since dance offers as much variety as the music and traditional delights, African dancers are earth centred; dancers repeatedly return to the earth as they give themselves to the rhythmic pulse. This is one of the features of the Atilogwu dance. The dance is not also complete without wiggling, a common characteristic of a typical Nigerian dance.

This is another dance reputed to be one of the oldest in Igbo land. This dance like many other popular dances of Igbo-Ukwu such as Ohuekwe, Ubogazi, Akite and Ilighi-ili is an indigenous dance. No one can give reliable account of how the dance came to Igbo-Ukwu, but over the years it has undergone modifications from its original form. The dance in recent times has won both local and international recognition. It is magnificent in rhythm and physical Acrobatic movement. Particularly of interest is the role of the flute player who dictates the pace of the dance. Watching the dance presents a tourist with an insight into the spirit of perseverance and ability to surmount obstacles by the Igbo people.

The Atilogwu dance is perhaps the most intense African cultural dance form performed as a group, as can be seen in the dance, the Nigerian youth are still very much in love with the Igbo traditional music.

It is evidence that the so-called hip-hop youths of our days are still very much in love with the Atilogwu dance-step. You would notice how the tempo of the dance increases when the tempo of the music increases. You could also hear the flute-like wind instrument known as the Opi playing in the background of the traditional music, the ogene instrumental and the drum.

This is a way to show how much people think that the Atilogwu dancer is possessed with a supernatural spirit that made him or her dance with such extra-ordinary energy and fluidity.

How this energetic and fluid dance steps known as Atilogwu did came about?

Research has shown the Atilogwu dance step to be among the oldest dance step in Igbo land. Ezeagu Atilogwu (Atilogwu Ezeagu) was born in 1947, in Lagos. One Clement Onwumelu of the Nigerian Railways returned home and bought all the instruments of the Atilogwu for the Ezeagu Improvement Union, Lagos. This was possible because, according to history of atilogwu  , a youth organization of Aguobu Iwollo had travelled to Ebenebe in Awka in 1942 to learn the Atilogwu.The dance style became very popular everywhere, gaining both local and international recognition

To attain perfection in the art of performing the Atilogwu, two experts were invited from home to Lagos to teach the dance.

There was a policy that all the male children of Ezeagu up to the age of 14 years, living in and around Lagos metropolis, must take part in the weekly rehearsals. Students, wards, workers, apprentices, etc., were all “conscripted” into the Atilogwu.

Thus, the Atilogwu became a passport for gaining employment by Ezeagu people.

Ezeagu Atilogwu became so popular in Lagos that it was called the “Famous Ezeagu Atilogwu”. It became a pride of Ndigbo as well as an identity, and also gained the support of many prominent Nigerians.

The Atilogwu became the most talked about traditional dance in Nigeria. The style, sequence and eloquent movements of the dancers thrilled spectators who wondered whether there was magic in the dance. Newspapers, Reporters, and Commentators saw and reported the dance in different ways. Atilogwu dancers’ pictures were used for both postcards and Christmas greeting cards. Any occasion that was not ended with the Atilogwu was regarded as unsuccessful.

The international-famed of the Atilogwu dance remains the cynosure at traditional dance jamborees in the eastern part of Nigeria.

Atilogwu dance has been elevated to a dazzling art form, simply put; Atilogwu has become a celebrated signature of Nigerian culture, performed around the world.