NIGERIA CULTURAL FESTIVALS

As you are already aware, Nigeria as a country, is made up of several ethnic group, each with a rich cultural heritage. for want of space, i have chosen to discuss two of these festivals namely the masquerade festival of the efik people and the new yam festival of the ibo people.

I learnt so much about the masquerade festival  as a student in uyo, the capital city of akwa ibom state, nigeria. the efiks believe that a masquerade is a physical or mock representation of the spirit of the dead. this usually demonstrated at a yearly festival by energetic, specially dressed and masked men. the village square usually serves as the venue for this important festival. only previously initiated men are qualified to belong to this group.

During the festival, children, elderly, men and women assemble at the village square with the young ones and female taking cover under the men in fear of the fierce looking masquerades. the appearance of the masquerade is heralded by the beating of drums, gongs and cymbals as well as blowing of trumpets of different shapes and sizes.

As the masquerades dance, people clap their hands in excitement .But the masquerades are not all that peaceful. some of them exhibit intermittent violence as they chase people at will. those masquerades that are less violent receive more applause from the crowd, some of whom throw away at them. since masquerades in this part of the country must not seen at night. since masquerades in this part of the country must not be seen at night . the festival usually winds up before 7.00pm

  to be continued.......