For the igbos of eastern Nigeria, Masquerades are associated with spiritual elements and are seen to represent images of deities or sometimes even dead relatives.
The identity of a masquerade is a well-kept secret and performed exclusively by men. Also, masquerades were regarded as an instrument for maintaining peace and order and were primarily used as law enforcement agents. So it is an irony of immense proportion that the actions of a masquerade triggered chaos and pandemonium in two communities of Imo state and at the last count, led to the death of 5 people with 11 others severely wounded.
The identity of a masquerade is a well-kept secret and performed exclusively by men. Also, masquerades were regarded as an instrument for maintaining peace and order and were primarily used as law enforcement agents. So it is an irony of immense proportion that the actions of a masquerade triggered chaos and pandemonium in two communities of Imo state and at the last count, led to the death of 5 people with 11 others severely wounded.
It all began when a visiting masquerade popularly known as ‘Aja-ala’ from the Akatta community repeatedly macheted an indigene of Omuma community in Oru East council area of Imo state during a seasonal festival.
The reprisal attacks first began when indigenes of Omuma mobilized and retaliated the act descending on the masquerade and inflicting fatal pains on the masquerade which eventually led to his death.
Reports say close to 100 indigenes from the Akatta community invaded the Comprehensive Secondary School in Akatta, located in an area of land near Omuma, identifying and attacking students that hail from Omuma community.
Incidences like this obviously leaves one wondering the relevance of masquerade today or what manner of masquerade do we have nowadays. Are the still the agents for maintaining law and order or are they now agents chaos and unmitigated disaster?
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