Masquerades in Umukwu-Amune
Today was the Masquerade’s Day in Amune, Ovim. I was on a visit when I came across this masquerade band. In a situation, one comes across the masquerades face to face; it is crucial to ‘acknowledge or plead’ with them by calling out their names; if you desire not to be whipped. Sometimes you can offer them gifts to let you be. Masquerade floggings are traditional. To avoid those, one must stay as far as possible.
So I wrote the little poem below to talk about the sudden appearance of masquerades and the commotion they caused.
Threads hold fast upon your coat of colors
When the stage is set, you are the conqueror
All village folk flee from you, but older men sit
Gazing into space when men transform into spirits
Uniform dyes are of several displays
Dark green, brown, yellow, grey
The dust raised over the rooftops
Signals the onset of celebrations
Children hide, but hawks circle the sky
Many believe your arrival from ant holes
Others think you are ancient deities
Or spirits engaging the past and present
Reincarnated through the mortal man
Attending to the interests of the clan –
A place where hill dwellers call home
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