Essence, Concept and Masquerade Performances of the Idoma People of Nigeria

Abstract

Masquerade performances abound in Idomaland like in most African cultures. They are institutionalised to help strengthen the religious, cultural and social spaces. Masquerades and their societies are respected and venerated in Idoma culture as they serve as a medium to bridge the gap between the living and the dead. They are used in most cases to represent the spirit of the dead. Against this backdrop, this study appraises the essence and concept of masquerade performances of the Idoma people. Employing literary and interview methods, it investigates the functionalities of masquerades. Among other findings, this study reveals that masquerades in ldomaland connect the living and the spirit as they help to translate and mediate between the two worlds. Conclusively, masquerades in Idoma culture do not only earn their respect and attraction from verbal narratives, they also have other appeals such as their nuances in performance, beats of drum-rhythms of various repertoires from the drummers and the singers who produce the music for entertainment.