Dance, identity creation and social change in Nasarawa State

Abstract

This paper is library research on Nasarawa Dance and how it could be used to create an identity for the state while facilitating social change among its people. The paper defines social change as behavioural change that transforms the society and argues that dance, especially coupled with drama (dance-drama), could engender this desired change in the state. The article recommends inter alia that dance could be used to drive tourism in the state and should be geared towards preserving the indigenous cultures in their most valuable forms while being didactic performatively in exemplifying the virtues that Africa is known for. Also, dance should be a corrective instrument in purging the African society of cultural deformities as well as being a counter-offensive to what is equally no longer acceptable in indigenous African cultures as a people in the modern age. There is no doubt that Nasarawa State would be the better for it in terms of enhanced global visibility, positive social change and economic empowerment of its people if the above recommendations are implemented.