Between reality and perceived reality: A study of mediated culture in Ukwata festival

Abstract

An important cultural occasion that highlights the rich tradition of Abbi people in Ndokwa-West Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria is the Ukwata Festival. However, how the festival is portrayed in the media has sparked debate about how reality and perception relate to one another. This study aims to investigate how people move between perceived and actual reality by looking at how traditional festival rituals are mediated and portrayed in modern culture. It investigates the relationship between perceived and actual reality within the framework of mediated culture. The study employs a qualitative research approach, using a combination of historical-analytic, key-person interview (KPI), observation and documentary analysis methods, to gather data to examine how festival attendees' perceptions of reality and reality itself are shaped by mediated culture. The study reveals that Ukwata has significant cultural and symbolic relevance since it captures the customs and values of the populace and helps in fostering the growth of their sense of self through the festival's cultural activities. The research highlights some of the ways in which participants move between the real world and the imaginary world by examining the festival's performances, customs, and symbols. The results indicate that cultural identity, customs, perception and transmission of cultural values can all be influenced by media depiction. The study concludes that the experience and interpretation of traditional performances, such as the Ukwata of the Abbi people of Delta state, Nigeria, are significantly shaped by mediated culture.