Gender, Possession and Spirit Mediumship in African Total Theatre and Performance: The National Troupe of Nigeria's Iba as Paradigm

Abstract Most African indigenous performances such as dance, music, masquerading, drama among others are characterised with possession and spirit mediumship. These attributes give the performances peculiar uniqueness. Iba, a National Troupe of Nigeria performance is used in this study to explore the intersection of gender, possession and spirt mediumship in African performances. The performance is wrapped in a complex web of possession, invocation, spirit mediumship and healing. Through a critical analysis of this theatrical performance, the study seeks to examine how gender challenges and shapes the experiences of spirit mediumship and possession in African performance. Furthermore, the study will also investigate how these performances mirror and/or challenges power dynamics, aesthetics and societal customs and traditions. This research adopts a multidisciplinary approach involving performance studies, anthropology and gender studies to explicate and reveal the complex manner through which gender influences spirit mediumship, possession and healing in Iba performance. Findings reveal that in the performance, the male gender exhibited dominance and power play through their performances. On the other hand, the female gender used the performance to challenge patriarchy, negotiate power and assert their agency. The study concludes that Iba performance is the window through which understanding of the intersection of gender, performance and African culture and spirituality is embodied.