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Princewill ABAKPORO

Assistant Lecturer
college of Liberal Studies (COLBS)
Theatre Arts Programme

Princewill Chukwuma Abakporo holds a faculty position in Theatre Arts Program, Bowen University, Iwo Osun State Nigeria. He is a research associate of the Theatre Emmisary International (TEMI), Member of the Guild of Nigerian Dance Practitioners (GONDP), and an Editorial Member of Researchjournali’s Journal of Media Studies. He is also a member of the Research and Strategic Partnerships of the College of Liberal Studies, Bowen University as well as one of the winners of the Bowen Research Grants 2023.

Education
  • Imo State University, Owerri M.A African Drama and Theatre 2017 (Thesis in African Dance)
  • Imo State University, Owerri. B.A Theatre Arts 2009
Research

To date, my research can broadly be summarised in three fold: Cultural studies, Indigenous Dance Aesthetics, and sociopolitical criticism. 

Cultural Studies: In my works grouped under this segment, I look at the interactions, change and continuities of indigenous African culture. My interrogations in this segment have taken the tone of decolonization and reclaiming the salient cultural features of indigenous African people. 

Indigenous dance aesthetics: in this segment of my works, I attempt to explore and unveil new vistas for indigenous dance to reclaim their pride of place as indigenous property of African people which carry their beliefs and identity. The stimulus for these ventures is on the premise of the threats of colonial aesthetic and technological invasions on African indigenous epistemologies which threaten indigenous performatives towards extinction. Hence, in summary, I attempt to explore ways in which indigenous dance art can regain its pride of place by addressing new myths and realities.

Sociopolitical criticism: This research interest attempts to spark up conversations on the state of governance and leadership from the lenses of dramatic literature. From dramatic works, I attempt a reading of the ways in which Nigeria can tackle the several challenges to her latent democracy and steer the nation towards the right course and ease the search towards nationhood.

Institutional Service
  • Member, LOC Protocol. First Joint International Conference on Religion and Ethnicity in the Making of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic Hosted by Bowen University in Collaboration with the Institute of African Studies, University of Georgia. 14th – 16th December, 2022.
  • Staff Adviser, Theatre Arts Department, Bowen University, Iwo.
  • Member, Quality Assurance Committee, College of Liberal Studies, Bowen University, Iwo. 2021 till date
  • 200 Level Adviser, BOWEN University, Iwo, Osun State, 2021
Professional Service
  • Choreographer: The Voyage written and directed by Ojo Bakare Rasaki and performed as a workshop/Induction production in Bowen University, Iwo on the 6th June 2023.
  • Director Gods at War written by Stanley Ohenhen Marking the 17th Convocation Ceremony of Bowen University, Iwo, 5th November 2022
  • Actor/Tech Asst. Prophesy Fulfilled written by Akanji Nasiru and Directed by Bisi Adigun to mark the 16th Convocation Ceremony of Bowen University, Iwo, 5th November 2021.
Selected Publications
  1. Abakporo, Princewill Chukwuma & Stanley Timeyin Ohenhen. ‘Decolonizing Tropical Environments: Awakening Nigeria’s Indigenous Dance Theatre.’ Anita Lundberg. (Ed.) Decolonizing the Tropics (Special Issue), eTropic: Electronic Journal of Studies in the Tropics. Vol. 22 (1), 2023. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.25120/etropic.22.1.2023.3958 (Australia, SCOPUS INDEXED)
  2. Abakporo, Princewill Chukwuma & Divine Sheriff Uchenna Joe . “Navigating Ethno-Religious Postnormality in Nigeria: Readings in Ahmed Yerima’s Pari.” ETKI: Journal of Literature, Theatre and Culture Studies, vol. 3, no. 1, 2023, pp. 1-20. Available online at https://www.etkijournal.com/index_htm_files/1.NavigatingEthnoReligiousPostnormalityinNigeriaReadingsinAhmedYerimasPari.pdf (Turkey) 
  3. Nwaru, Christian & Princewill C. Abakporo. ‘Securing the Future of Indigenous Dance in Nigeria.’ In Creative Artist: Journal of Theatre and Media Studies. Vol. 16 (2), 2022: 84 – 98. Available online at https://www.ajol.info/index.php/cajtms
  4. Abakporo, Princewill Chukwuma & Stanley Timeyin Ohenhen. ‘Complexities in Childhood Discourses on the ‘Forced-to Ripen’ Nigerian Child: Pespectives in Drama and Socio-Psychology.’ In Anna Odrowaz-Coates (Ed.) Social Pedagogy for Social Inclusion and Children’s Rights Discourses. UNESCO/Janusz Korckzak Chair’s Book Series. Warsaw, Poland: Maria Grzegorzewska University Press, 2022: 43 – 53. (Poland, UNESCO FUNDED BOOK)
  5. Abakporo, Princewill Chukwuma & Gloria Ernest Samuel. ‘Between E-culture and Real Culture: A Peep through the Lenses of Nollywood.’ In Pedagogika Spoleczna Nova. Vol. 2 (4), 2022: 149 – 163. Doi: 10.14746/psn.2022.4.09 (Poland)
  6. Abakporo, Princewill Chukwuma and Nwaru, Christian Ikechukwu. ‘Ethical Issues and Morality in J.P Clark’s The Wives Revolt and Emeka Nwabueze’s A Parliament of Vultures.’ In International Journal of Humanitatis Theoreticus. Vol. 6 (1), 2022: 232 -244. Available at https://www.integhumanitatis.com (Ghana)
  7. Abakporo, Princewill Chukwuma. ‘Tragedy and African Cosmic Reality: Readings in Wole Soyinka’s Death and The Kings Horseman and Esiaba Irobi’s The Fronded Circle.’ In English Language, Literature & Culture. Vol. 7 (2), 2022: 57-61. DOI: 10.11648/j.ellc.20220702.12.
  8. Abakporo, Princewill Chukwuma. ‘Nigerian Drama and the Politics of Incarceration.’ In Ewa Dabrowa and Ana Odrowaz-Coates (Eds.)Education and the Challenges of the Multicultural World. UNESCO Commissioned Book Project. Poland: Maria Grzegorzewska University Press, 2021: 159 – 172 (Poland, UNESCO FUNDED BOOK)
  9. Abakporo, Princewill .C Traditional Dance, Dialectic Spaces, and the Identity Question: The Alija Dance in View.” In AKETE Journal of Performing Arts and Cultural Studies. Vol. 1 (1), 2019: 143 – 151.
  10. Jacob, Oluwafemi A. & Princewill C. Abakporo. ‘The Centrality of Dance in Imo Carnival of Imo State.’ In The Performer: Illorin Journal of Performing Arts, Vol. 21 (2019): 119 – 126.
  11. Abakporo, Princewill C. “Dance and content issues: implications for contemporary indigenous dance in Nigeria.” EJOTMAS: Ekpoma Journal of Theatre and Media Arts. Vol 7 No 1-2 (2019). 72 – 82. Available online at https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ejotmas/article/view/194688. DOI: 10.4314/ejotmas.v7i1-2.5
  12. Abakporo, Princewill .C. “Gender Parity and Survival in Chris Nwamuo’s The Substitute.” Stanislaus Iyorza, Irek Nancy Ernest, Charles Effiong and Lilian Okoro (Eds.) Creativityand Development: Selected Essays on Nwamuo’s Intellection. Calabar: University of Calabar Press, (2019). 456 – 460
  13. Mbara Nnamdi; Abakporo, Princewill Chukwuma and Oguike Ruth Treasure. “Corruption, War and Politics: An Appraisal of Asigbo’s The Reign of Paschal Amusu.” Gowon Ama Doki, Emeka Nwosu and Olympus Ejue (Eds.) Fighting form the Trenches. SONTA: (2019). 247-259.
  14. Nwosu Cajetan and Abakporo Princewill. “Pentecostal Belligerency and the Survival of Indigenous Nigerian Dances.” AMA: Journal of Theatre and Cultural Studies. Vol. 13.1 (2019): 31-52.
  15. Abakporo Princewill and Nicholas . C. Akas. “Managing Spatial Dynamicsin Onwa-Oru Uratta Festival Performance, Imo State.” Humanitatis Theoreticus Journal, Vol. 1. 2 (2018): 62 – 70. Available online at 
  16. Abakporo, Princewill. C. “Repositioning Indigenous Dances in Nigeria through Rebranding and Promotion” In UUJH: University of Uyo Journal of Humanities, Vol. 22. 1 (2018): 223-236.
  17. Abakporo, Princewill. C. “Surviving in Postmodernism: Strategies for the Nigerian Indigenous Choreographer” In IKORO: Journal of Contemporary African Studies. Vol. 10. 1&2 (2018): 255-266.
  18. Ukachi Wachuku and Abakporo Princewill .C. “Survivalist Aesthetics and the Igbo Indigenous Dance Theatre: A Postmodern Mediation in the Performance of Katy Perry’s Roar” Calabar Journal of Liberal Studies (CAJOLIS). Vol. 20.1 (2018): 97-110 Available at https://facartsjournalsunical.com/index.php/Cajolis/article/view/8/7
  19. Abakporo, Princewill. C. and Ogungbesan Oluseyi .A. “Rethinking Dance Packaging for Improved Patronage: Implications for Heartland Theatre Troupe.” In TRIBUTARIES: NDU Journal of Theatre and Media Studies. Vol. 2 (1), 2018: 97-103.
  20. Nwaru, Christian Ikechukwu and Abakporo Princewill C. “Repositioning Indigenous Dances for Survival and Economic Stability in Contemporary Nigeria.” In The Creative Artist: A Journal of Theatre and Media Studies. Vol. 13. 2 (2017): 280-293. 
  21. Abakporo, Princewill. C. and Ajamgbe Cyril. O. “Adjusting to Change: Reclaiming the Indigenous Dance Space in Contemporary Nigeria.” In JOTAMS: A Journal of Theatre and Media Studies. Vol. 2. 2 (2017): 61-72. Available online at http://www.academix.ng/documents/papers/1525342282_1036.pdf
  22. Abakporo, Princewill .C. “Pentecostalism as Major Bane to the Development of Indigenous Dance Art in Nigeria.” Education and Science Journal of Policy Review and Curriculum Development. Volume 5. 1 (2015): 99 – 108. Available online at http://www.internationalpolicybrief.org/images/2015/Edu_Sci/ARTICLE(11)-.pdf