REIMAGINE THE IKORO WOODEN SLIT DRUM OF UMUNZE AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION, SCULPTURE INSTALLATION, AND NIGERIAN PRIDE

Abstract

The Ikoro Obibie-Aku wooden drum from Umunze, Igbo West Africa, Nigeria, was the subject of the investigation. Other Ikoro wooden drums have reportedly been discovered around the Igbo region. The Ikoro is so unique that whenever its sound is heard, people congregate in the village square, where it is believed that any of the following would have occurred: a murder has occurred, the land has been contaminated, a war has broken out, or a disaster has struck the community, among other things. Nonetheless, the Ikoro piece's forms and functions within the framework of Igbo cultural philosophy were highlighted, along with its deterioration and advocacy for its preservation in a museum for future generations. Additionally, there is proof that some of the Ikoro pieces were destroyed by fervent enthusiasts. Electronic media, pertinent primary and secondary data sources, and exploratory conceptual research (a document-based qualitative study technique) were used to collect the data. According to the article, the Ikoro wooden drum may bring in money for the local community and the nation as a whole if it is appropriately conserved in a museum as a tourist destination.