Masquerade Festival in Okene Kogi State
… BUT WE SAW IT.
Masquerades hardly appear for nothing; occasions call for them. This is what am sure of in any given African society. When they appear, they are highly revered and feared by the people, especially women and children… though this depends on the type and origin of the masquerade. Often times, most of these spiritual beings as they are believed to be, purse and embarrass their followers and handclappers /singers for the fun enjoyed by them only.
Again, masquerades don’t appear or come out to odd places of the habitats of the living. They appear at venues of occasions, be it dedications, celebrations, burials, mournings and other likely places. When they appear, it is to dance and amuse and not to harm or tense-up situations, rather, to leave the public in a most jolly moods. Except for other ulterior motives, masquerades are for entertainment and not to embarrass, but we saw it!
What was a masquerade doing or looking for at the Kogi State Government Secretariat, during the working hours of one of the days of the week, is my question begging for answer. But we saw it there.
A sea of heads: majorly women with a uniform attire and a few men, carrying long canes took over the complexes in a matter of minutes. They proudly introduced the masquerade to me (upon inquiry) as AHANKACHA from IDOGIDO , Central Senatorial District, Kogi State.
The workers i. e. Civil Servants in the wake of the confusion from the visit of Ahankacha went different directions, to stay away from the dread looking masquerade. Moments later, it was made public that Ahankacha came on the invitation of two government appointees.
