Festivals, agents of relaxation in Igboland, are celebrated to commemorate one important event or the other. Festivals have many facets such as mmonwu (masquerading), Iri-ji (new yam festival) and mgba (wrestling festivals). Masquerading is the main focus of this study and serves as one of the greatest festivals among the Igbo. In Afikpo, masquerading is classified into three, namely ‘Iri Iko’, ‘Igwugwu’ and Okumkpo. These masquerade festivals are remarkable with one type of activity or the other, with Okumkpo masquerade festival most prominent. The materials for this paper were collected under the principle of survey method from Ozizza, a town in Afikpo. The Afikpo clan is called the Ehugbo after their founder and the total population is approximately 156, 611 (2006 census) with land mass of 204km2. The masquerade festivals aim to correct ills within the Ehugbo people of Afikpo. The question now borders on its relevance in this modern era considering the fact that the government has put in place various regulatory legal instruments for protecting human rights and curbing the ills of society. This work will show that the relevance of masquerading is not diminished by the modern imports.
Chiewe, G. (1990) Masquerade Festival Research and Documentation Unit of Ministry of Information, Social Development, Youths, Sport and Culture, Anambra, State.
Egudu, R. N. (1971) “Igodo and Ozo festival songs and poems”. Conch 3, 2, 76–88.
Enekwe, O. O. (1987) “Igbo masks: the oneness of ritual and theatre”. A Nigeria Magazine publication 56.
Ike, O. (2012) “Unmasking the mask”. In A. A. Polycarp and I. Obuasi, eds. Issues in language and human development. Festschrift for Jerome IkechukwuOkonkwo, 311–317. Enugu: San Press.
Ikegwu, J. U. (2014) Archaeological study of Ozizza in Afikpo North Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Unpublished Ph.D Thesis, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Onyeneke, A. O. (1987) The dead among the living: masquerades in Igbo soceity. Enugu-Nigeria: Chuka Printing Co.
Okoli, E. (1987) Mass mobilization: a theoretical perspective. Paper Presented at the National Workshop on Rural Developnment and Mass Mobilization, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Okpoko, P. U. and E. Okonkwo (2004) “Resuscitating masquerade festival for tourism development in Enugu and Anambra States”. Nsukka Journal of the Humanities 14, 1–15.
Ome, E. M. (1994) “Igbo masquerade: vehicle for or impediment of social mobilization”. UCHE Journal (University of Nigeria, Nsukka) 9, 80–85
Ugonna, N. (1985) Mmonwu: a dramatic tradition of Igbo. Lagos: University Press.
Turner, T. (1967) Minister writes VP, NSA over IGP’s Call to Scrap NSCDC. Thisday Live. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/minister-writes-vp-nsa-over-igp-s-call-to-scrape-nscdc/ 75526/ >. Accessed on June 20, 2016.
Adebayo, B. (2010) “Why we deserve to be armed”. Vanguard Newspaper. Available online at <http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/02/why-we-deserve-to-be-armed-nscdc/>. Accessed on June 20, 2016.
Adefaye, G. (2013) “Civil defense wants synergy on counter-terrorism”. Vanguard Newspaper Available online at http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/06/civil-defence-wants-synergy-on-counter-terrorism/ . Accessed on June 20, 2016.
Anonymous (2014) Police, NSCDC battle over oil pipelines. Available online at http://julianafrancis.blogspot.com.ng/2014/09/police-nscdc-battle-over-oil-pipelines.html . Accessed on June 20, 2016.
Odunsi, W. (2014) NSCDC Hosts Dialogue on Peace Dialogue in North-East. Available online at <Dailypost.ng/2014/08/13/nscdc-hosts-dialogue-peace-north-east/>. Accessed on June 20, 2016.
