The below pictures shows the Induction ceremony (initiation) for newly matriculated students of Theater Arts Department, Rivers State University.
I have read different sides to this induction ceremony.
– some said it’s fetish
– some said it goes against the students’ religions
– some said it’s a devilish act by the Theater Arts Department to get the newly matriculated students into occultic activities.
– some said another means should be used to welcome the students into the Theatre Arts Department as they begin there journey as a Thespian.
???
To set the record straight…
If you gain admission in any university or college of education in Nigeria that offers Theatre Arts, Dramatic Arts or Performing Arts and you didn’t pass through this initiation, my brother or sister, make sure you carry it out before you graduate because that is what will determine, or better still, guide you throughout of your life journey as a thespian.
The Department of Performing Arts, Theater Arts or Dramatic Arts majorly use the INVITATION CEREMONY to welcome and expose its fresh students to rites of passage as a mark of entrance and acceptance into its fold thus formally assuming the role of Thespians.
The induction ceremony signified their exposure to the rules and regulations guiding the Performing Arts or Dramatic Arts or Theater Arts (as it applies) activities as a discipline in the Department.
This annual event is the norm in all tertiary institutions all over the country where students enroll for Theatre Arts, Creative, Dramatic or Performing Arts as a programme.
Thespians are those Theatre Arts Students that have passed through this initiation.
Since Art mirrors life, the whole activities carried out depicted the real scene of Occultic initiation, because the newly admitted year one students were made to tie red and white cloths throughout with some mark of native chulk, and were made to carry calabash, walk round the school community on bare footed and bare bodies. with this kind of induction, one would think it’s actually a real “Occultic i
Initiation”.
Even though it looks so real like that of Occultic initiation, but I will categorically tell you here that, there’s no devilish attachment to this induction or initiation ceremony. It is mainly to induct the year one students into the department according to the customs and traditions laid down by the First Actor, Thespis, that is why all theatre Arts Students are called Thespians.
The induction ceremony is basically for you as a year one student, to know and understand what you are going into, without being inducted into the department, you will never be allowed to Act on a stage, if such is done, it is considered a sacrilege and whatever that happens, you will have to carry it because you caused it yourself. It is the same way in all Universities or Colleges of Education that offers Theatre Arts, Dramatic Arts or Performing Arts in Nigeria.
