Mupun Storytelling Performance in Transition: A Study of Njingkook

Abstract

his paper examines Ningkook storytelling theatre of the Mupun people of Plateau state, North central Nigeria in the light of emerging socio-political and economic realities and challenges signposted by globalization and its indices. The aim of this paper is to identify functions of storytelling performance (Njingkook) in traditional Mupun community and how the stories were used as means of entertainment and education in the past. What was the moral of the story? What key elements of nature were involved in the story? Does the story have anything to do with geography and history of the people? These are some of the questions the paper will attempt to interrogate. Also, the paper looks at the mutations that characterize the present realities of Njingkook performance as well as the reasons behind the mutations. The objective is to discuss ways to revive, preserve some aspects of the performance, repackage and promote the tradition not just for the consumption of the mupun community but to adopt and contribute to global cultures as can be seen in the playtexts of people from other cultures such as Efua Sutherland's "The Marriage of Anansewa" which major materials were gotten from storytelling traditions of the Ghanaians. This paper concludes that it is still necessary to encourage the practice and study of Njingkook performance amongst the Mupun people in the midst of global changes and mutation. This is because transition or change in itself is a social reality and man is the creator of that reality.