Empirical Study of the Role of Traditional Performance in Constructing Ethnic Identity Among Youth in the South South

Traditional performance participation by youth in South South Nigeria plays a crucial role in ethnic identity formation, but empirically characterising the mechanisms through which this occurs addresses an understudied area of Nigerian cultural sociology. This study empirically examined the relationship between traditional performance participation and ethnic identity strength among youth aged 16 to 30 in Rivers, Delta, and Edo States, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, with a structured questionnaire administered to 360 youth (120 per state) assessing traditional performance participation frequency, ethnic identity scale scores, and mediating variables including language use, elder interaction, and cultural knowledge. Structural equation modelling was applied. Traditional performance participation was a significant positive predictor of ethnic identity strength (beta = 0.44, p < 0.001). The relationship was mediated by indigenous language use (indirect effect accounting for 28.6 percent of the total effect). Youth who participated in annual festival performances showed significantly stronger ethnic identity than those who performed only at family events. Urban residence significantly moderated the performance-identity relationship, with urban youth showing weaker identity strengthening from equivalent performance participation. The study provides original empirical evidence on traditional performance and ethnic identity formation and recommends state-level support for traditional performance participation among youth, school cultural arts programming, and longitudinal studies tracking identity development through adolescent performance engagement. Keywords: traditional performance, ethnic identity, youth, South South Nigeria, cultural participation