IGBO MASQUERADE

IGBO MASQUERADE

By: Frances Jombo Odilichukwu

Image Source: hometown.ng

The Igbo man before 1800 can be identified through his words that reflect his spiritual

beliefs, rites and rituals. For the quest of the transcendental power drives the Igbo

man and his activities are not very different from his spiritual rites.



Masquerading is one of such activities of the Igbo man that depicts the spirit and human

worlds; yet a socio-cultural event. Masquerading cannot be traced to a particular time

given the oral nature of the Igbo history, the appearance of each masquerade is significant.

It’s either something strange was going to happen or happened, or that there was

festival or a carnival to exhibit the rich culture and crafts of the Igbo people whatever

was the case varied from village to village.



However, masquerades like ijele, izaga, and the likes parade alongside humans during

events like new yam festivals, funerals, Christmas season, some special market days,

and masquerades like ukpor and some others if seen by the common man endangers

his life. There are different types of masquerades hiding behind different masks,

representing different villages. It is believed that some masks are made to take the image

of a certain deity or a dead person (ndiichie); nevertheless, it shows the creativity and

craft of the Igbo people.



Civilization and the white man’s religion has sieved the Igbo masquerading system,

but it remains significant for promoting a part of the Igbo culture.