Ùdù (Vessel) is a implosive aerophone and an idiophone which belongs to Ndi Igbo. It is similar to the Igbo water vessel (Udu Mmili) but with an extra hole, and was originally played by Igbo women during ceremonies.
Several instruments, traditional and modern, are derived from the Udu. These include the Utar, in which the Udu is elongated, flatter, and disc-like; the Kim-Kim which has two chambers and two holes; and the Zarbang-Udu which adds a skin membrane along with the open holes, developed by Persian percussionist Benham Samani.
In 2005, Eugene Skeef took the South African Zulu potter Clive Sithole to Nigeria as part of his international Udu project. The purpose of the trip was for Clive to meet Igbo women potters so that they could learn from each other as potters and exchange cultural traditions in the process.
Eugene and Clive, with the help and guidance of Christian Udonsi, Rafe, and Chijioke, travelled to Enugu where they met 4 expert Udu makers, Victoria Eze, Angelina Okoro, Grace Ugwoke and Uzoamaka Ugwoke.
Note: If so called educated Igbos, the Igbo middle class & Urban/City Igbos fail to embrace Igbo cultural heritage, then Igbo culture will gradually disappear as more Africans move from the rural areas to cities in the coming decades. Udo!
Photo Credit: igbohistoryandculturetv
