Covid-19 lockdown and its impact on the performance of Ekpo music in Afaha Obong clan, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

One of the most prevalent, popular, and indigenous cultural practices of Akwa Ibom people is the Ekpo music festival. It is founded on the belief of life after death and it is regarded as the soul or ghost of ancestors that return to the land of the living in masquerade form to participate with kinsmen. This is usually marked by exciting events during certain periods within each year, such as period of farming and rites of passage. However, the emergence of COVID-19 brought a great negative impact on the yearly cultural display of Ekpo music festival. The pandemic came with preventive guidelines and measures led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be observed by everybody all over the world. It is obvious that Ekpo music festival organized yearly by Afaha Obong group suffered seriously by this global pandemic. This paper seeks to assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the Ekpo yearly music festivals, and the efforts made by the custodians of thee festival to ensure the regular performance of Ekpo during the period. In order to validate some of the claims made in this study, primary data were obtained through personal observation and interview with members of the Ekpo group. Data retrieved were analysed, and the result of the findings reveals that COVID-19 pandemic lockdown greatly disrupted the yearly music performance of Ekpo music in Afaha Obong and the entire Akwa Ibom State. The areas affected include restrictions on movement which led to boycott of rehearsals, lack of funds for ritual rites and costumes, avoidance of direct contact with people, financial constraints and difficulties to adapt to changed lifestyle. The study recommends that indigenous music practitioners should systematically adapt to new digital opportunities in their performances to meet the current global needs