THE VERY DISTURBING MENACE OF AKATAKPA MASQUERADES IN OUR SERENE AND PEACEFUL COMMUNITIES: SOMEBODY SHOULD DO HIS JOB

OPINION

By Vincent Odoh.

While Nigerians are warming up and busy preparing for the forthcoming general election in the country which will usher in a new leadership for the country, some youths seem to have misapplied its objectives by directing their energy towards “Akatakpa masquerade” business and rebuilding long crumbled shrines. It is unfortunate that people who indulge in this business are mostly Christians who have abandoned their Christian faith to join this mundane and good for nothing practices that do not add anything to economic value.

It is a pity that some Christian youths across the state now prefer to return home for “Akatakpa” annual festival in the name of culture than Christmas period which ordinarily should pull crowd.

Recently the festival was celebrated in different localities by those home and abroad members from the indigenous people of various communities in Nsukka. According to reports, the festival was said to have pulled crowd from within and the neighbouring communities.

It could be recalled that during this celebration, masquerades of different types disguised as entertainers in glutinous voices were seen disturbing the peace loving community people and unsuspecting passers by.

An interview with a supporter from the area believed to be a high concentration of the festival remarked that it is helpful to the community and that it is the ‘god of the harvest’ that they give honour. He also noted that, they own it as a duty to thank God for protection and for guiding them through the period of farming.

However, the embarrassing aspect of the festival is the notion and the stupid believe that “Akatakpa” masquerade has the power to kill when it is neglected by the owner or the community.

It was also believed that an attempt to stop the masquerade during the festiva led to death of many citizens, especially, the oldest man in the village (Onyishi), pregnant women, children and young men.
According to them, masquerades are weapons to drive wicked spirits in the land away especially during the festival time.
.
However, there is no evidence to support this claims as all efforts made to justify these claims have not been possible. It is high time our society became more reasonable in believing some superstitious junks and views. .

It is common knowledge that in the past, the strength of a man is measured by the number of wives, children and yarm bans he had, but today people seems to measure their strength on the level of masquerade he is able to showcase to the public.

It is sad to note that in many communities Masquerading has caused a lot of problems sometimes leading to danger to life. It is even alleged that some masquerades carry arms, such as cutlass, pistol and other dangerous weapons during their outings over and above the supposed cane.

There had been stories of people who cluster round these masquerades getting involved in serious injuries and sometimes sent to their untimely death.
In the past, a certain mascurade was allegedly crushed to death by a moving vehicle in Obollo Afor Community, Udenu Local Government Area in his attempt to pick money thrown to him from the ground by an admirer. The owner of the masquerade was reportedly said to have died in the process.
Also, another boy 25, was feared dead after he was hit on the head with a cutlass by a suspected masquerade allegedly at Ovoko but on interrogation, it was discovered that the masquerade was not a native chap. Another was said to have smashed a vehicle windscreen of a moving motorist in Ovoko. He was said to have been handcuffed and immediately handed over to the security operatives. What of the one that reportedly beat a serving Senior seminarian in the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka for refusing to offer something?. He was also said to have been arrested by the police and wisked away. The list of these misdemeanor is endless.

It has also been observed that many of the people who engage in this masquerade menace are novices to the culture and tradition of the community. Some of them get the masquerade on hire to extort money from the unsuspecting public. This is why they choose to cluster around major roads during such celebrations

The most annoying thing is that the majority of these are Christians. These is evidence that those who are living overseas chose to return home every year to support the festival instead of waiting for December time. It is unfortunate.

Communities should be advised to scrutinise the owners of these masquerade for easy identification against unprovided injury or death arising from masquerading menace in our society. It is also pertinent to advise that masquerades are better relocated to the hinter land areas in the community instead of the federal roads where they cause traffic congestion during festivals.

This claim that it is culture is disturbing and unacceptable.

A senior staff member of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka who spoke on the condition of anonymity noted that if they are claiming that masquerade is a cultural thing, then, they are not to block federal roads, rather, they should form dancing troops to make their outings look attractive and for people to come and watch.
A new Nigeria is possible indeed.