ABSTRACT
Òde is, broadly speaking, any open, non-raised space, whether inside or outside of a building. In the context of performance, it designates the space where an enactment takes place. It is the stage, the arena before an audience, where various performances take place, ranging from sacred rituals to festivals, social entertainments and celebrations in the community. Thus, in one sense, the notion of òde discussed here is that of an open, “empty” space with the potential to be transformed into a space for performance, among other uses.
