Ibom Heritage

5 Scariest Masquerades in Akwa Ibom

There are more than 5 masquerades you should be afraid of in Akwa Ibom State, but in this article, I will talk about 5 of the scariest. Some of them are so horrible, women can’t survive a sight of them. Some are Ibibio cultural cults, while some are simply cultural plays. Meanwhile, please get this book; Ibibio Nation: History & Culture by Oto-Obong Uwah, click here.

Ekòng

This is by far the goriest to watch and you will never find a photograph of it online. It is reported that some years ago near Ibiono, a pregnant woman saw ekòng masquerade by accident and immediately suffered miscarriage. From a description of a member of the ekòng secret cult, the masquerade is bathed with corpses, torn flesh, fresh blood and other repugnant trappings.

Ekpo

The Ekpo is founded on the belief in life after death. And it is regarded as the soul of ancestors that return to the land of the living in masquerade form. It returns to participate with their kinsmen in communal festivals such as farming and rites of passage.

Ekpo is a cult.

To become part of this circle you must be initiated. Also, every activity of this sect is designed to pour fear, dread and caution on women and non-initiates.
Ekpo was known for instituting justice and performing judicial, administrative and religious duties during pre-colonial times.

Atӓt

This means wasp and the head of the masquerade is shaped like a basket. The body-worn costume is woven and the physique of the masquerade is dwarfy. The Atӓt masquerade is played as a festival in a few communities in the state. It is known for the security role it played in ancient Akwa Ibom before colonial times.

This Akwa Ibom masquerade is also known to possess supernatural powers as with the others. Only that it some times performs magical art to the amazement of admirers. Besides these, it was useful in instituting moral values amongst women and other members of old Ibibio society. The aim of the Atat masquerade was to maintain in the cultural society.

Utuèkpè

This means spider in Ibibio. As the name implies, this masquerade behaves like a spider during its display. It would scale heights on strings aided by other members of its troupe.

Nnabò

This is a cult with a very ferocious masquerade. The masquerader himself is made to undergo certain spiritual rites to be able to wear the costume and then be brought out for display. It is found mainly in the Annang areas of Akwa Ibom State.

Primary keywords – masquerade, akwa ibom, ekpo

Brownson Nseime writes from Jabborro PR, Uyo.

masquerades in Akwa Ibom
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Oto-Obong Uwah

Oto-Obong Uwah

Oto-Obong Aniefiok Uwah is the author of Ibibio Nation: History and Culture. He represents the new generation of Philosopher-Kings who believe in the unfailing strength of the human capacity to change every contrary situation. A highly motivated individual, he also plies his social trade in public speaking, coaching and mentoring.

He holds a BSC in Accounting from the University of Uyo and an MSC in International Accounting & Finance from the University of Liverpool. In his career, spanning over 19 years as an accountant and budget/cost analyst in the public and private sectors, he has developed a robust aptitude for analytical reviews and cost management towards efficient project delivery; having practiced as a Trainee Accountant with the Federal Civil Service and Cost Controller in the Oil & Gas Sector.

In actualizing various roles within this professional context, he built capacity and mentored other professionals in those roles. Currently an HR Compensation and Benefits professional, Oto-Obong has used his experience as an active labour unionist to push reforms that have led to a fairer welfare and compensation structure within the workplace.

Currently an HR Compensation and Benefits professional, Oto-Obong has used his experience as an active labour unionist to push reforms that have led to a fairer welfare and compensation structure within the workplace.

Oto-Obong Uwah is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He is widely trained on both local and international platforms, enhancing his professional capacity towards improved service delivery.

 

He is a poet, writer, political scientist, public commentator, sports enthusiast, and an accomplished humanist. His latest foray as a humanist is in the field of anthropology and heritage studies, committed to the propagation of the Nigerian cultural heritage.   

Oto-Obong Uwah is of the Pentecostal section of the Christian community, happily married and blessed with three beautiful daughters. As a philanthropist, he has teamed up with his beloved wife to sponsor scores of indigent Nigerians through various levels of education. He is a very sociable person and an astute networker, easily found in the company of smart and intelligent people.

His life’s dream is the consistent improvement of humanity and the continued development of the social eco-system to make for a more fulfilling life for all. Driven by this mantra, he set out in 2015, to document the history of his Atan Offot Community in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. What started as a clan-centered ambition to document the history of a small community created the pathway to a more expansive research that evolved to produce the book shared with the public today. Thus, Ibibio Nation: History and Culture is one of his modest contributions to the current global interest in the history and sociology of ethnic minorities.