Masquerades and masquerading have been integral parts of the Igbo Culture from times past. Masquerades were respected and held in awe and they mostly appeared at important occasions. To be a part or member of any masquerade one must be initiated and this happened at a particular age by a male member of that society.
This shows that the masquerade cult was not one anyone could just become a member of. The initiation rites were also very tedious and demanding and that added to the myth and awe the masquerade cult enjoyed. Women were not members of the cult and had nothing to do with masquerades.
Yet again, masquerades mainly appeared at the village squares where people gathered to watch them and such appearances were not regular. Whenever a masquerade was sighted in off season, it was an indication that something was wrong or that a great man had died in the community. All this added to the myth of masquerades.
Today, however, the reverse has become the case, with any young man having the freedom to hit the streets in a masquerade. Masquerades are these days used in extorting money from people on major roads and those who fail to oblige them are often flogged and in the case of vehicle owners, their vehicles may be damaged.
Today we have seen pictures of women posing for pictures with masquerades; just as we have seen masquerades drinking at pubs. They also no longer have special times for appearing as any youth who wants to make money, only has to put on the garb and hit the road. To worsen matters, some of those who masquerade at odd times are criminal elements who use the opportunity to rob road users.
Today’s masquerades no longer restrict themselves to the village squares but often cause pandemonium on the streets. It was on one such occasion that an elderly man was beaten to death by a masquerade in Umuawulu Community of Anambra State recently. The man was hit on the chest by the masquerade for failing to give it money and the Anambra State Government has placed the masquerade on the wanted list.
The Umuawulu incident was a sad one, as it showed the level masquerades have degenerated in today’s society and this should not be condoned.
We call on the Anambra State Government to tighten the screw on masquerades and masquerading. The Umuawulu incident took place because the masquerade chose to do its business on the streets rather than in the village square. The state government should therefore, place a ban barring masquerades from operating outside the village squares of the various communities, while the various community leaderships should regulate their activities.
It is regrettable that what used to be a source of entertainment has now, turned to an instrument of extortion and bullying. The various community leaderships should ensure that no one comes out with a masquerade, if there is nothing to celebrate, for, more often than not, criminal elements use them to survey the homes of those they want to raid.
We condemn the situation where able bodied youths who should be in school or at their places of business, are seen following masquerades in morning hours, in off season. Those people should be arrested and investigated as what is happening these days is not what we envisaged. The masquerades which left the village square must return to it or else government should take a good look at this and take appropriate actions.
