Mood11:
Enwelu nnukwu muonwu nwe otinkpu
Nnukwu muonwu puta, ogbenye awara Oso
Otinkpu a'neti gbulugbulu bu uku ose

Oliver de Coque

Bigval5:


Where In OZ?

Amakwa

Chuzoetoh:
Amakwa

Nekwa Nwanne'm

Umueze Amakwa

amaniro:
No actually. Abia state Arochukwu/ohafia side share similar cultures with Akwa ibom. So it'll be an illogical statement to say one borrowed ones language. We too in Umuahia call it ekpo. Until I went for a seminar and they described one man as "Nnukwu Mao" I didnt know what it meant then, I asked my mom she told me its also masquerade but that's not Anambra people call it.

Since the term Ekpo and Ekpe are from Ibibio, its borrowed, just the same as Omugwo being an Igbo term despite it used by many non Igbo tribes down south can be said to borrowed, it happens in all languages

clockwisereport:


Dianyi, Nsukka d'uso

Nsukka asogbue onwenye

Awon Okoro wey no get culture... Nonsense na im full their region

senatordave1:

It was adopted from the ibibios of akwa ibom

Senator Dave, you and abia matter 5&6

nengibo:

Since the term Ekpo and Ekpe are from Ibibio, its borrowed, just the same as Omugwo being an Igbo term despite it used by many non Igbo tribes down south can be said to borrowed, it happens in all languages

OK if you say so!

Whenever I say am married to an igbo man, people ask when he is from,I tell them and they say no be Igbo na!!! Na we wa be across the Niger be Igbo. So am use to mentioning he is Igbo from Delta State before am been asked.even in my parish our assistant parish always say it's time for Thanksgiving,only the Igbo from across the Niger are to come out.

Thane:


Madam, Please there's nothing like Delta Ibo. Igbo is Igbo no matter the state.

Gforce2015:
That's the reason what makes the region growing under a curse. Idol worshippers people.

Idol?

Bigval5:


Nekwa Nwanne'm

Umueze Amakwa

Imagine!!! Abu m onye umudezim. Chai nwanne di na mba

You didn't add Okorosha, From Imo state. Don't have the picture. They always warn us not to snap it or go by the left hand. Quite a fearful masquerade.

Beautiful list. Our culture is really beautiful

Nathandics:
Where is Achukwu...a.k.a otagbuo orie

This picture looks alot like my village in aguata

LarrySun:
The events of the first Mmanwu I witnessed as a child would forever remain stamped on my consciousness. Among the thirteen masqueraders that entertained the crowd that hot afternoon, the acrobatic displays of the Agaba was nonpareil; even the other twelve seemed to be mere followers of Agaba. The crown of its head – like that of a peacock, or the tail of a thoroughbred – swung majestically as it danced and we cheered. Unlike the others that would occasionally take some few steps towards terror-stricken children and cause them to dash off like major Temple Run characters, the Agaba’s interest was to impress the crowd with its warrior-like prowess and magical manifestations.

The most amazing feat Agaba performed was its demonstration of the impossible; it crossed the river to the other side and back absent canoe. Agaba walked on water before our very eyes! This was something no other masquerader had ever done in the history of our village. The crowd roared with surprise and admiration as they clapped their hands. I remember the chief priests nodding proudly as if they were the ones who performed the miracle.

Agaba returned just as dry as it was before making the sensational display. As if that was not enough to scare the broad daylight out of us children – out of me particularly, something else we didn’t see coming sufficed. Just out of nowhere, fire caught Agaba’s clothing made chiefly of bamboo rafters. No one knew how it happened but later rumours revealed that one jealous masquerader from the other twelve had betrayed Agaba by setting fire on him through sorcery.

Agaba’s power was probably not strong enough to douse the fire; and so there before the hundreds of people watching, the masquerader pulled off its coat.

Behold, Agaba was the village’s Catholic priest!

Haha, this is very funny

Chuzoetoh:
Imagine!!! Abu m onye umudezim. Chai nwanne di na mba

Na so.. Check DM

richmanrichard:
ogbaagu only comes out in the 9t mostly during burials. You re right-we have achikwu/achukwu in many places apart frm Ekwulobia but ours is one of d most popular. How come a woman like u knows so much about masqurade? Aru! Sacril... The gods said u 'should bring one he-goat + one bunch of mess(udu aru).

In my town,we have a masquerade called Oganigwe, it is said that no one has ever seen it except for initiates and it comes out at night too and mostly during burials of high classed chiefs, you cannot see it not to talk of snapping it, and it's vibrations shakes buildings from a very long distance, my father once told me how it ordered a palm tree to pursue a man hiding from it in the bush, and indeed it happened. I really miss all that

nengibo:

Since the term Ekpo and Ekpe are from Ibibio, its borrowed, just the same as Omugwo being an Igbo term despite it used by many non Igbo tribes down south can be said to borrowed, it happens in all languages

How exactly are we sure that Ekpe was borrowed from Ibibio.
Ekpe masquerades serve as law enforcement agents, they mediate factions in the society. They are like judges. And in Igbo, to judge literally means "Ikpe". One who judges is actually called "Onye na-ekpe Ikpe".

HahhahhHaaa, the same thing I was about writing, until I saw it at the bottom. Ajofia ba anti. Lols.

Weldone , the writer really tried. Nice read.

TriCee:
I thought you Omitted 'Ajofia', e dey there....your list seems complete though.

millyj:
Whenever I say am married to an igbo man, people ask when he is from,I tell them and they say no be Igbo na!!! Na we wa be across the Niger be Igbo. So am use to mentioning he is Igbo from Delta State before am been asked.even in my parish our assistant parish always say it's time for Thanksgiving,only the Igbo from across the Niger are to come out.

Your assistant parish or whoever that is doing that nonsense is an ignorant person, likewise those who accept his myopic views.
There is nothing like Delta, Enugu, Anambra,, Ebonyi, etc Igbo.
What we have is just Igbo.

Not even every part of SE is Igbo.

Next time, don't subscribe to the opinions of ignorant Igbos.
Your husband is Igbo, that's all. If they ask the part of Igboland, just Say Enu-ani, Ika, Ukwuani, etc, as the case might be.
Stop feeding their ignorance.

nazicartel:
Didn't see nwa-utam, the spiritual masquerade

Nwa-utam is in Bonny area right?

pazienza:


How exactly are we sure that Ekpe was borrowed from Ibibio.
Ekpe masquerades serve as law enforcement agents, they mediate factions in the society. They are like judges. And in Igbo, to judge literally means "Ikpe". One who judges is actually called "Onye na-ekpe Ikpe".

The fact that the masquerade serves as a means of justice, doesn't mean Ekpe translates to Judgement, Ikpe is the Igbo word for judgement, Ekpe in Ibibio means deity if I'm correct cc Ntoakwaibom, and the fact that these masquerades came into Igbo land through the areas that share similarities with the Akwacross tribes doesn't leave much doubt about its origin

DeeMain:


He gave the literal meaning but the real meaning in Igboland is a warrior or warrior spirit. It's the same as what put up there.

The bottom line is that they are two words identical in sound and spelling but different in meaning. And as a matter of proper information, should have been used in the proper context here. All the same, enjoy the thread.

sassysure:


They are not the best.
Each are unique in their own way.

I came from neighbouring town.
Isuofia has achìkwù too.

Nanka has òsùhù.
Like achìkwù but come out only in the night.

Enugu has wonderful adamma.

If u happen to find yourself in arondizogu during their ikeji, u will feed your eyes or go to any ofala festival.

Achikwu I believe is found in almost all old Aguata LGA. It's rarity is due to the fact that it doesn't come out in the day and even at night when it emerges, all light source are switched off. It's retinue are mostly old men with lots of spiritual powers. It's said to possess spiritual powers to the level of having a woman barren for life if she sees from wherever hidden position she is. Have you ever seen a picture of Achikwu or even know how it looks? This will tell you how scarce it is.

Thank you very much. I really appreciate this insight.

pazienza:


Your assistant parish or whoever that is doing that nonsense is an ignorant person, likewise those who accept his myopic views.
There is nothing like Delta, Enugu, Anambra,, Ebonyi, etc Igbo.
What we have is just Igbo.

Not even every part of SE is Igbo.

Next time, don't subscribe to the opinions of ignorant Igbos.
Your husband is Igbo, that's all. If they ask the part of Igboland, just Say Enu-ani, Ika, Ukwuani, etc, as the case might be.
Stop feeding their ignorance.

drejr:
The most popular masquerade should be Adamma.

Abi o, That's the only masquerade I like.

Nicklaus619:
I didn't see akatakpa those from nsukka will understand this one, it fun watching them display that year, each time we visit grandma

Luke akatakpa like odobo...

ChrisKels:


My kinsman, called Air raid, AKA "Agu na-eche mba" once untied that goat and brought it home(Isuikwuato)for merriment, leaving Pericoma in his awe

Isuikwuato masquerades mostly take it home. Una jazz no be here na.

LarrySun:
I won't leave you. We're stuck to each other.

That's the spirit. Don't leave her. If every female, keeps saying "leave me, leave me...", dem go born person from tree?

LarrySun:
The events of the first Mmanwu I witnessed as a child would forever remain stamped on my consciousness. Among the thirteen masqueraders that entertained the crowd that hot afternoon, the acrobatic displays of the Agaba was nonpareil; even the other twelve seemed to be mere followers of Agaba. The crown of its head – like that of a peacock, or the tail of a thoroughbred – swung majestically as it danced and we cheered. Unlike the others that would occasionally take some few steps towards terror-stricken children and cause them to dash off like major Temple Run characters, the Agaba’s interest was to impress the crowd with its warrior-like prowess and magical manifestations.

The most amazing feat Agaba performed was its demonstration of the impossible; it crossed the river to the other side and back absent canoe. Agaba walked on water before our very eyes! This was something no other masquerader had ever done in the history of our village. The crowd roared with surprise and admiration as they clapped their hands. I remember the chief priests nodding proudly as if they were the ones who performed the miracle.

Agaba returned just as dry as it was before making the sensational display. As if that was not enough to scare the broad daylight out of us children – out of me particularly, something else we didn’t see coming sufficed. Just out of nowhere, fire caught Agaba’s clothing made chiefly of bamboo rafters. No one knew how it happened but later rumours revealed that one jealous masquerader from the other twelve had betrayed Agaba by setting fire on him through sorcery.

Agaba’s power was probably not strong enough to douse the fire; and so there before the hundreds of people watching, the masquerader pulled off its coat.

Behold, Agaba was the village’s Catholic priest!

You have "killed me". Someone arrest this moniker for murder.

pazienza:


Most Igbo towns have Ajibuusu nah.
But It's usually considered a small masquerade, certainly not amongst the big ones.

He said most popular nah. Ajibuusu that scared the shit out of me and my siblings in Asaba. Small but mighty.

sassysure:
This is good!

Add achìkwù too.


I don't normally call out mods but I need to call them out on this.
Lalasticlala and MYND, can u guy do something please.

We want more and dances too.

That achikwu is a strong one ohhh

frozen70:


That achikwu is a strong one ohhh

yeah. They can dance n run for africa. They can pursue u frm onitsha to lagos without getting tired oh. So dont bother going to watch them if u cant run.