Audience comprehension of messages in cultural troupe performances: Evidence from Benin City, Nigeria

Daniel Omoruan, Sam Erevbenagie Usadolo & Tanya Van Der Walt

Volume 6 Issue 2, June 2026

Abstract

Cultural Troupe Performance (CTP) serves as a dynamic medium of cultural transmission, blending verbal and nonverbal expressions to engage audiences. In Benin City, cultural troupes (CTs) draw upon the community's rich cultural resources not only to entertain but also to communicate and propagate the people’s heritage. This study examines the verbal and nonverbal messages conveyed through CTP in Benin City, analyzes how audiences interpret and comprehend these messages, and identifies the sociolinguistic, cultural, and contextual factors that shape message reception. The problem addressed in this study is the ongoing decline in people’s knowledge of their language and culture. Using a qualitative methodological approach, data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs), key respondents (KRs), and observations conducted during fieldwork. Data were analyzed using an interpretive thematic approach. Findings reveal that audience understanding of the messages communicated varies and is influenced by several factors. The significance of the study lies in drawing attention to the persistent threats of cultural erosion and language loss, thereby underscoring the need for sustained cultural and language education, as well as broader preservation initiatives. This paper contributes to the limited body of existing literature and expands access to knowledge in the field.

Keywords

Author information & Contribution

Daniel Omoruan. Corresponding author. Department of Visual and Performing Arts, Durban University of Technology. Durban.
Email: 22176420@dut4life.ac.za

Sam Erevbenagie Usadolo. Department of Media, Language and Communication, Durban University of Technology, Durban. Email: samu@dut.ac.za

Tanya Van Der Walt. Department of Drama and Production Studies, Durban University of Technology, Durban. Email: tanya@dut.ac.za

"All authors equally contributed to the conception, design, preparation, data gathering and analysis, and writing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript."

Disclosure statement

Funding

Institutional Review Board Statement

Data and Materials Availability

AI Declaration

Notes

Acknowledgement

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Cite this article:

Omoruan, D., Usadolo, S.E. & Van Der Walt, T. (2026). Audience comprehension of messages in cultural troupe performances: Evidence from Benin City, Nigeria. International Review of Social Sciences Research, 6(2), 164-186. https://doi.org/10.53378/irssr.353355