CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
Festivals are understood as a development of culture and their influence on people and the surrounding space is not a new phenomenon. It is closely connected with the development of human culture, which dates back to the historical roots of the human kind (Klein and Blake 2002).
The IYERI festival of the Ughelli people is generated from the concept of Culture. Its’ type include idealistic and materialistic, high and low, regional, local and global culture. In Renaissance, culture was commonly identified with advancements in literature, philosophy, legal order, as well as art and science, which was thought indispensable for the proper social development. Later on, primal tribes started to be distinguished from civilized societies, where these elements of culture reached a higher level of development (Kelley 1996).
Culture was also understood as the whole human knowledge influenced by social interactions, sometimes as a way of life, a realm of values, beliefs and symbols. Many culture researchers currently believe that the phenomenon depends on the time and space in which it occurs, so it is changeable and unpredictable (Robertson 2000).
The position of every culture is presented in a festival and festival forms the very way for people to see what a culture of a particular people looks like. In theatre, festival is a display of a total form of culture which is presented within the context of the people’s belief and ritual. The symbol of festival in a theatre is practically for display and universal presentation and acceptability.
1.2 Rationale of the Study
A number of researches have been carried out on costuming a festival but this research shall centre on costuming the festival of the Ughelli people of Delta State. The rationale of this study will be useful equip intellectually the minds of costumers in costuming a festival. There has really been no documentation about the costuming of the Iyeri festival of the Ughelli people of Delta State, so this study will help in the actualization of a documented source in which people can refer to.
1.3 Significance of the Study
This study is very important because it will provide the necessary information on costuming a festival. It will benefit those who have seen or participated in a festival before and also to those who won’t be privileged to take part in such.
1.4 Methodology
In this research, two types of research methodology will be applied. The research used interview sociological and literary methods. In the sociological method, it will involve personal observation. This is to gather relevant details from the society. While in the literary method, analysis of books, written materials and other journals will be consulted.
