Oko-Jaja, Eze Tuonimi

Ritual, Gender, And Custom: Re-Examining the Iria Ceremony in the Historical Development Of Opobo and Kalabari

This research re-examines the Iria ceremony within the historical trajectories of Opobo and Kalabari, presenting ritual, gender, and custom as dynamic forces in socio-political development. Drawing on oral traditions, archival materials, and qualitative historical analysis, the study argues that Iria is not merely a rite of passage but a gendered institution embedded in the cosmological and social organization of Eastern Niger Delta societies. Following Victor Turner’s concept of ritual as “social drama,” Iria emerges as a performative arena where feminine …