ABSTRACT
Surveying Nupe country as a whole the number of different rituals is strikingly large and their geographical distribution irregular. With so much variety it is impossible to select a particular community whose rituals would be 'typical' of Nupe practice; rather, each village cycle of rituals is typical (or atypical) in its own way. This chapter examines some cycle of rituals within the setting in which it operates, that is, within the corporate life of the community for which it is primarily valid or, in Nupe parlance, by which it is 'owned'. For this pupose, the chapter takes two instances, one from Doko and the other from Jebba Island. The majority of rituals in these two places and since these represent an interesting contrast, Doko being a 'typical' inland village, with hereditary chieftainship, and Jebba Island a riverain community where chiefs are elected.
