Atịlọgwụ
The name of the dance i will tell you the story is Atilogwu
As we were told by our forefathers, this dance was jointly started by the people of Udi and Ezeagu communities.
They started this dance in the year 1954.
The people who started this dance performed it during the visit of Queen Elizabeth to Nigeria to welcome her.
This happened during her first visit to Nigeria in the year 1956.
Someone like late Chief Ifeanyichukwu Nzekwe.
Someone like Chief Elias, Chief Okonkwo, Felix^Okonkwo from Aguobu Iwolo.
someone like Ferdinand Anukwe from Ihieoya who is still alive.
He is still alive.
Someone like Innocent Ozieze. who hails from the Iwolo community.
He is still alive.
These mentioned persons were the ones who named the dance Atilogwu.
The name was borne out of a question "Is there magic in this dance?
posed to them and they decided to coin the name of the dance out of that question. This was how the name Atilogwu came to be.
This is because they were performing in an unimaginable way
They were the first to welcome Queen Elizabeth.
In the year 1956, on her first day of visit to Nigeria.
If you consult search engines on the internet on this, you will see also when this happened, which is in the year 1956.
On the 5 naira note, the visit and welcome of Queen Elizabeth to Nigeria isrepresented there.
This is to serve as a remembrance of that event in Nigeria as well as a display of the Atilogwu dancers during such visit in the country.
In the beginning, Atilogwu was only performed by men.
But now, it is also performed by women who desire to engage in the dance too like the men.
Infact, in the early days of the beginning of the dance, men who were performers were easily attracted to maidens and got married through it.
These women intentionally followed the men dancers home.
Women married them because they were good dancers.
Atilogwu dance have a special attire for it.
Because everyone has something they are known with.
Atilogwu dance has a particular outfit that it is known for.
The Atilogwu dancers are known for their shiny attire with multiple colors.
The colors are unique that it's easily recognized as Atilogwu dancers.
In sewing the attire for Atilogwu, different colors are used and are likened to the colors of the rainbow.
Instruments for playing Atilogwu
There are seven instruments, the first is called 'Alo', drum, small drum, Aligongo, ngede-egwu, wooden gong, udu and oyo.
They are Seven, Oja is also added.
So, these instruments is used to play music for the dance to enhance the sweetness of the sound.
So when played, it calms the soul with its sweetness.
Each instrument has a purpose. Each of them has a specific response to the music.