David-Chyddy Eleke writes about the recent reign of violence unleashed by a masquerade on innocent fun seekers in Anambra, insisting that masquerades exist for entertainment rather than violence.
In the entire Igboland, masquerades are believed to be spirits. Even when it is clear that the person behind the mask is a mortal man, the assumption is that once he enters the costume, he transits to a spirit.
There are diverse kinds of masquerades, and as many as there are communities across Igbo land, there exist diverse masquerades, and the aim is to entertain, and they do so in diverse ways. Many masquerades across Igbo land are famed and usually associated with communities that founded them or have the very best of such masquerades.
The Ijele is regarded as the king of masquerades, but as famed as it is, its role is only to entertain. Big, colourful, with slow and dignified steps, the Ijele is never in a hurry or ever caught prancing around any event field, but it’s slow and calculated steps and its retinue of attendants are where its entertainment lies.
Several communities have their variants of Ijele and deify them in their own ways, but some masquerades are also peculiar to some communities, just like the Ajofia masquerade is peculiar to Nnewi people. There are far more other masquerades, including Agbomma, Agbogho, Cinema, Ulaga, Agaba and many more.
Last Monday, Agaba masquerade came under the radar after a display it had in Awgbu, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, during the last ofala festival of the traditional ruler of the community. The event was the last traditional rite of the demised monarch, and the community had prepared well for it, with musical performances and masquerade displays, but the Agaba masquerade unleashed the level of violence that drowned the success of the event, leaving a sad tale behind.
In footage already circulating on Social media, the masquerade attacked everyone in sight, defying even the attendants. In one, the masquerade jumped on the podium at the event and started destroying public address systems, attacked the master of the ceremony, who owned the instruments, who was identified as Onowu; a musician and an indigene of the community who was contracted to perform, who also stood up to it. In another, the masquerade chased other smaller masquerades in the community who seemed to know its strength, and ran as far as their legs could carry them. But in two others, the masquerade pushed down two men who were riding peacefully on their motorcycles. One of them an old man, and the other was a young man who hit his head on a parked car, and many suspect that he sustained a fatal injury.
These actions have sparked outrage, with many calling for a ban on the masquerade and possible arrest, while some others, mostly indigenes of the community, have defended the masquerade, describing it as famed, prized and the community’s identity, whose actions are known to all and should be avoided once it comes out to perform.
Charles Ogbu and Obi Trice, both Facebook users, described the activities of the masquerade as barbaric. While Trice wondered why supposedly educated persons can support the actions of the masquerade in the 21st century, Ogbu called for its arrest. Ogbu beckoned on Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to ban the masquerade, arrest the man behind it, and also its attendants, who joined the masquerade in beating up the man who resisted it on the stage.
But an indigene of the community, who simply gave his name as Jay told THISDAY that the community is not unaware of the destructive behaviors of the masquerade. He said: “This is one of Awgbu’s most famed masquerades. It is very well known. Awgbu people know how it performs, and that is the reason it’s appearances are always announced beforehand. For example, Agaba Awgbu does not appear at certain times during a function. When a big man is going to be buried, the masquerade attendants come to notify the hosts that Agaba Awgbu masquerade will be performing. It doesn’t also come out like that, it only does after ceremonies have been completed, and before it comes out, it is announced, so that if you don’t want to watch it, you can leave.”
Jay said it’s an age-long tradition that was inherited, insisting that the Agaba masquerade only appears after 6:30pm, and it’s appearance is always announced, so that those who don’t like it can leave, and that it only performs for just five to 10 minutes and leaves the state. Even though the time is short, it makes all the impact and catches attention just like other masquerades who performed for several hours before it.
He also explained that: “The way we respect the Agaba, if you are coming its way, you are expected to stop and let it pass.” This may be a justification for the men pushed down by the masquerades from their motorcycles. Speaking on the man who was attacked on the stage, Jay said: “The man who was attacked is from Awgbu, we expect that he should have known the tradition. He is a musician and was playing when Agaba entered, and he knows that once Agaba enters, he doesn’t share the stage with any other performer. Even smaller masquerades who try to perform are attacked. So we expected him to respect the tradition, but he continued to play. I think that was what infuriated the masquerade.”
Meanwhile, police authorities in Anambra who insist that they have the mandate to save life have acted swiftly by arresting the masquerade. The spokesperson of the Anambra State Police command SP Tochukwu Ikenga in a press release said the masquerade was currently under custody.
He said: “The command has taken into custody the masquerade involved in the unprovoked and violent attacks on innocent citizens, which led to a breach of public peace in Awgbu, Orumba North Local Government Area. The Command notes that the behaviour of the masquerade, as seen in the viral video currently in circulation, is totally unacceptable, unlawful, and will not be tolerated under any guise. The suspect is currently in Police custody, and investigations are ongoing to ensure that all those involved are brought to justice.”
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