HomeOthersArtsAku, Eungu: A community where men are forbidden from seeing masquerades

Aku, Eungu: A community where men are forbidden from seeing masquerades

In most Igbo communities, female folk are not allowed to have direct contact or see some masquerades both in day time and in the night. But in Aku community, Igbo-Etiti local government area of Enugu state, the reverse seems to be case.

Tucked away from the rapidly developing Ogbede town, local government headquarters, Aku Diewa seems to be living a different life from the rest of many Igbo communities.

Odo Aku masquerade festival

The Odo Aku masquerade festival is a biennial event. Though the festival lasts for a period of six months, every day of the festival produces a different phase culminating into different villages celebrating their own masquerades outing.

So, every year, thousands of indigenes of the land-locked ancient community from different parts of the globe make their way home to celebrate the festival.

The last festival was held in 2021 with a lot of huge controversies leading to many non-indigenes calling for the outright ban on the festival.

When the community was visited to ascertain the level of preparedness for this year’s festival, many residents were on high spirit, waiting for the D-Day.

One of the residents who gave his name as Ogbobe John said that every Aku indigene is expecting memorable Odo festival this year.

” On February 15, 2023, the Odo festival will kick off. It is exactly two weeks now that the Odo masquerades will come down from the hill where they stay. ”

The Odo Aku masquerade

Though Mr. Ogbobe didn’t want to take a deep dive into the occultic aspects of the festival he told our reporter that ” this festival is like the life of the indigenes of this community. Everybody is involved irrespective of your religion.”

Benefits of Odo Aku masquerade festival

However, another indigene of the community, Mr. Emmanuel Ezikanyi told WITHIN NIGERIA that ” there are so many benefits we derive from celebration of this festival. One of them is the entertainment aspect. The festival period is entertainment period. In a world where tragic events take place every moment, we cannot but do without Odo festival.”

Explaining further, Mr. Ezikanyi, a graduate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka who invented Igbo calendar said that ” it is a mark of identity. It shows who we are. Let me tell you that without Odo, there wouldn’t be Aku. Odo is our identity as Aku Diewa people. That is why everybody, man, woman, children, traditionalist, priests and even atheists believe that Odo is a mark of our identity.

“Again, it also serves as a mark of  protection against any evil attack by enemies. Odo masquerades whether you believe it or not protects Aku people from the hands of their enemies. This doesn’t depend on whether the people believe it or not. It exists in the spiritual realm.

The rare picture of Odo with a female

“Finally,  it is  tourism hub yet to be harnessed. Odo masquerades festival should be seen and treated Eyo festival in Yorubaland. If properly harnessed will be generating a lot revenue for the state and the community at large.”

Masquerades and their villages

Another indigene who gave his name as Odo Emeka Odo said that many villages have masquerades that prohibit both men and women from seeing them during the festival.

These villages are; Nua Lenegu with Ann mpu masquerades; Nuaelu with mgbugbara masquerades; Amaezi  ugwunani  with ọchọkụ; Amauwani ugwunani with odo oji; Ọda with  imodiọda; Ọda with okoronweri and Amabukwu with ebi masquerades. These masquerades are not seen by any human being, both man and woman in the night or day time.

Asked what could likely be the consequences of the disobedience. Emeka told our reporter that ” the consequences are incurable sickness, bad luck and many a time, immediate death. It had happened times and so, none of the indigenes of this community will ever want to experiment on the veracity of the claim. It is beyond human comprehension.”

According to WITHIN NIGERIA some decades ago, following the death of many indigenes as a result of the violation of the masquerades rules, six well meaning indigenes of the community had a meeting and decided to find a solution towards annihilation of the alleged killer masquerades. Of the six persons that converged to get rid of the masquerades, one said he wouldn’t be part of the annihilation process. Two months after the meeting, five out of the six persons died mysteriously.

Since that incident, nobody wants to talk anything against these masquerades any more.

[SOURCE]

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