Traditional Ijaw music relies heavily on percussion and rhythm, featuring instruments such as native drums (ịgba), talking drums (opu ozi), wooden gongs, flutes, and shakers/rattles.
Hand-carved wooden drums of varying sizes provide the primary bass and rhythmic foundation for dances and ceremonies. Talking drums are hourglass-shaped tension drums used to mimic speech patterns, convey historical narratives, praise titles, and signal community events. Rattles and shakers are dry seed or bead-filled percussion instruments tied around dancers' ankles or held in hand to add high-frequency counter-rhythms.
Flutes (Otele / Local Whistles): Wooden or bamboo wind instruments used during festivals, boat regattas, and masquerade processions.
Dawoye Egberi is a performance by Ikia Mina Ogbo a socio-cultural and philanthropic organisation for the wives and daughters of Opobo, Rivers State, Nigeria.
