Afikpo 2024 carnival
Okocha Samuel@samuelokocha084648
7 months ago
UGWUOHA MASQUERADE FIESTA AS A SPECIAL RENDITION OF IKO EHHUGBO FESTIVAL
In our last article on the origin of Iko, we established that the oracle advised that each of Iko’s sons should celebrate their mother’s burial in grand style using different masquerades to spice up the burial. Ugwuoha masquerade fiesta is one of such outings employed by Nde Amuro/Mgbom communities to make Iko Nde Itim celebration one of the best.
Ugwuoha masquerade fiesta is a concept that derives its strength and powers from the age grade formation. In Ehugbo, age grade is not only a social organization, it is also an institution of governance designed in a way that each age-set is assigned a role, performs such roles and retires or gets promoted to another rank at the same time.
For instance, a junior age-set in Ehugbo will first of all serve as Isi-oogu (second in command) during wrestling festival. From Isi-oogu, they will be promoted to Ikpo status (wrestling Generals) where they will finally graduate and retire from wrestling contest.
Having retired from active wrestling contest as Isi Elia, they will get promotion to Ekpuke Eto Ehugbo where other higher roles or duties await them. One of such roles is Ugwuoha contest during the Iko festival.
Itim group of villages have two special renditions during the Iko Ehugbo festival. One is Ugwuoha, another is Owaraoka. Owaraoka is only performed by Nde Amuro. It is a form of military parade. The maskers are still in their youthful age filled with energy and strength. Thus, Owaraoka uses speed to cover the entire Isiogo Ehugbo. The only time their speed are lowered is when they are performing in the different Ogos in Ehugbo.
On the contrary, Ugwuoha masquerades are elegant in dress and in conduct. They are led in performance by the leading masquerades known as Ochirioburuozo. Other Njenje masquerades will queue behind the Ochirioburuozos. The team will not tire or retire until they had moved round the entire Isiogo Ehugbo where their relations in different villages will be waiting anxiously to receive them with gifts of yam, nkpola and money.
This year’s Iko Nde Itim, the Nduagu age-set will be in the forefront in the sustenance and preservation of this our age-long cherished cultural heritage. The age-set will be in the forefront as leading maskers, to be followed by Nde Isi Elia and others.
Historically, Ugwuoha masquerade performance originated from the Egu tradition (Egu is one of the earliest settlers in Ehugbo). Ugwuoha evolved as a system where any age-set that had come of age will move round the entire Egu country in masquerade performance before moving out to establish their own different Egu colonies.
In the past, Ugwuoha masquerade performance was not only limited to Nde Amuro and Nde Mgbom. Historical records available suggest that Ugwuegu-Ubam, Amankwo/Amaobolobo and Ndibe used to perform Ugwuoha rendition in the distant past. Why these communities stopped the performances should be investigated by Ehugbo undergraduate students of History, Sociology and Anthropology.
To watch the videos of some cultural displays among the people of Ehugbo and Edda clans, click on the links provided. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel via the link at the comment section .#neighbors #nirclecommunities
