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You Are Here:
 Home>About Akwa Ibom>People>Culture>Masquerades
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"The Akwa Ibom Project involves attitudinal re-orientation;
cultivation of a positive mindset; instilling self-confidence through massive empowerment
of our people; and the inculcation of the moral values of hard work, courage, honesty,
service and pragmatic peaceful co-existence"
- Akpabio
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Ekpo is founded on the belief in life after death;
and it is regarded as the soul or ghost of ancestors that return to the land of
the living in masquerade form to participate with their kinsmen in communal festivals
such as farming and rites of passage. As a secret society, membership is strictly
by initiation; hence, every aspect of Ekpo is designed to strike awe, fear and caution
among women and non-initiates.In the pre- colonial era, Ekpo served as the government
of the entire Akwa Ibom people performing such functions as judicial, administrative
and religious duties.
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Ekpo/Ekpe
From the pre-civilization era, the Akwa Ibom people used traditional cultural institutions
such as Ekpo and Ekpe to maintain order in the society. These institutions stood
out as government of the time.
Ekpe equally falls into the same category. Drawn from the concept of the leopard
being King, Ekpe therefore performs the role of Government. Visitors and researchers
will be amazed at the stories of the powers and exploits of these masquerades in
the enforcement of social norms and discipline.
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Utuekpe
Utuekpe means spider, and as the name implies, its performance is spider-like in
space, using a unique traditional technological approach known only by the initiates.
Like the spider its masquerades scale heights on strings, even riding motorcycles
on strings up a dazzling height.
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Ekpri Akata
This is a cultural society that serves as a powerful medium of disseminating of
information in the communities. It has the power to reveal and transmit to the
populace secret deeds of men, women and youth in the society, thereby curbing crime and promoting
integrity.
In this orchestra, the message of the text takes precedence over the
music, which is used to attract attention.
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Atat
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Obon
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Ntok Odio-Odio
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This is a sensational traditional play performed in very few communities in the
State. Its awesome appeal is typified by the security role it played in the traditional
Akwa Ibom setting. Ubiquitous and magical in role and performance.There are also
such institutions for the regulation of moral values among women such as ‘Asian
Uboikpa’.
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This is very popular among the riverine dwellers of the State. This is probably
due to its relationship with ‘Ndem’ a water related spirit and its associated deities.
This explains why Obon is an ensemble performance.
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The performance of this traditional music is attributed to the belief in purity.
Its masks and costumes are of white and sparkling colours, depicting innocent. The
music is instrument. Apart from its colourful appearance, the beauty of this performance
is in the non-verbal communication between the drummers and the dancers. There are
other groups that distinguish themselves either through their exemplary mastery
of a particular instrument for example xylophone or what can be referred to as the
Total Theatre.
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Copyright © 2012 Government of Akwa Ibom State |
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