POBPhotoContest - Music || Akwa Ibom's Culture

Not long ago, I found myself standing in front of this painting at a museum in Akwa Ibom. I didn’t expect it to move me the way it did. The scene was still, yet there was a strange kind of noise in the silence — not unpleasant, but alive. I could hear the drums. I could hear the call of the flute. I could almost hear the laughter of the dancers.

Music has always meant sound to me — the kind that comes through speakers or drums or voices. But this moment taught me something different. Music can be in movement. It can live in the way people dress, the way their feet touch the earth, or how colors are arranged on canvas.

This painting captures a traditional Akwa Ibom dance, where music is felt through movement, costume, and rhythm. The dancers’ outfits, likely made from raffia or goat skin, make sounds as they move, blending seamlessly with the beat. A flutist leads with quiet authority, his posture showing he's guiding more than just music — he's guiding tradition. The scene felt alive, loud even, reminding me that real music isn’t always about sound — sometimes, it’s about heritage, emotion, and connection.

Thank you @friendlymoose for this weeks contest, helping me to appreciate every beat in an image

Contest Link: https://hive.blog/hive-150329/@friendlymoose/pobphotocontest-new-round-music