It was a week long of activity in Akiyi-Umulokpa autonomous community, Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, as the community, on the 9th of August, 2025, began its annual masquerade festival, Popularly known as 'Ibone'.
This year's event, just like every other year, began with sighting of the moon 🌙, which heralded the commencement of the night masquerades, known as 'achukwu'.
The night masquerades which can only be seen by men who have gone through masquerade initiation processes, according to the tradition of the community, usually starts by 8pm to 5am, for a good number of days, before the ushering of daylight masquerades (which can be watched by men and women, children alike, across the seven villages of Akiyi-Umulokpa.
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The daylight masquerades paraded by young men across the seven villages that make up Akiyi Umulokpa, come in different shapes, designs and aesthetics, as spectators and admirers of these masquerades usually throng the Eke-Akiyi Market roads and several village-squares of Akiyi-Umulokpa, just to catch a glimpse of the 'gods', who took their turns to engage in flogging one another.
While the annual event lasts there are two key special days in between the annual community exhibition. One is called 'Nkwo Ibone nta', which is celebrated days after the commencement of the annual festival; and then, the biggest day, popularly known as 'Nkwo Ibone Shinne'.
'Nkwo Ibone Shinne' as it is generally called, marks the end of the annual masquerade parade. And On this day, the villages of Akiyi-Umulokpa, converge at the central village square, with each village, either parading their best masquerades, or best cultural heritage, with both young and old men, demonstrating their mastery, artistry and deep knowledge of the age long culture and tradition.
This year's event which ended on Saturday, was a delight to watch by the community, as the current Town Union Executives, led by Engr. Chief Malachi Chukwuebuka Anikwe, in their efforts to ensure a hitch free, peaceful and well organized masquerade ceremony, had empowered the ruling age grade in the community (Udo-Amaka age grade) to oversee over the general conducts of masquerades and young men alike, during the event.
This singular decision, has no doubt, helped the community in conducting this year's event without skirmishes and the usual rancour associated with this beautiful cultural display, as Masquerades were very conscious of the laws and regulations, reeled out by the 'Udo-amaka' age grade through their leader, Mr. Maximus Chindolu, who meticulously took out time to drum the consequences of breaching the code to all participants, through social media platforms as well as during the commencement of the event.
The age grade didn't just stop at reading this riot acts for the earring masquerades, they went as far as setting up a joint taskforce, drawn from every village, with the taskforce following the masquerades around to ensure utmost compliance and peaceful conducts.
Kudos to the Town Union!
Kudos to Udo-Amaka age grade!
And lastly, Congratulations to Akiyi-Umulokpa for an exciting annual masquerade outing as the community looks forward to bringing the ministry of culture and tourism, Enugu State, during next year's event, for their recognition and endorsement.
Gwiyi Solomon Ejikeme is Media officer to Akiyi-Umulokpa Town Union.
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