The Story & Origin of Ijele Masquarade

Preamble:

Ijele Masquerade known as the biggest Masquerade in South Sahara Africa is a special intangible heritage that belongs to the Igbo People of Nigeria and was listed in UNESCO Archives as Intangible cultural element in need of urgent safe guarding. In many communities in the state of Anambra in south-eastern Nigeria, celebrations, burial ceremonies and other special occasions during the dry season to evoke fertility and a bountiful harvest feature the performance of the Ijele masquerade.

Historical Origin:

That Ijele originated from Anambra State in Nigeria many centuries ago is not in doubt. According to UNESCO recent commentary on the Origin of Ijele Masquarade, It is believed that a dance group called Akunechenyi from Umuleri & Aguleri communities along the eastern tributaries of the River Niger in Anambra State gave rise to Ijele. It was originally intended to intimidate and scare away the early missionaries as well as celebrate royalty and greatness in Igboland.

However, the origin of Ijele according to available Oral story, emanated from Akwunechenyi dance group belonging to Umudiana Village of Ikenga Umueri. It was this very group that performed the first "izi egwu ijele"(introduction of the Mask) to other communities. The first Village to be introduced was Umuatuolu Village of Umueri, subsequently followed by Igboezunu Aguleri,Nsugbe,Nneyi Umueri,Nando,Awkuzu etc. Its pertinent to note that Igboezunu Aguleri was instrumental to introduction of the masquarade to Ivite Aguleri, Igbariamu, Nteje, and some other Villages outside Omabala areas.

In recognizing the roles played by Umueri in the Origin of Ijele, the Old Anambra State Government unanimously selected Umueri Ijele Cultural troupe, to represent the State in Festival of Art & Culture known as FESTAC 1977 of which the groups won various awards and accolades for excellence from the Federal Government in 1977.

Discription:

Ijele is the largest mask system ever to enter the history of the world masking tradition. It comprises of two segments: the upper and the lower segments divided at the centre by a big python. The upper segment is called Mkpu Ijele while the lower segment is called Akpakwuru Ijele or Ogbanibe and the centre is called Eke - Ogba (Python). Ijele towers about 15ft to 12ft based on gravitational balance construction. It is built around the intricacy of multi- color cloths, bamboo sticks and canes in line with a creative hand element. Due to its weighty size, an outdoor big house must be prepared for Ijele anywhere it will perform. It takes about 100 men to work for 6 months in preparation of Ijele Costumes and house before an outing performance.

Relevance of the Masquarade:

Ijele is a special masquerade in Anambra State, Nigeria. It is the King of all Masquerades and as such has 45 different other masquerades perform on top of it in the olden days. Presently, the 45 masquerades are represented by the 45 figurines seen on top of Ijele. The myth and size of Ijele is wholesome as every aspect of life is depicted on Ijele. It is the climax of all masquerades hence performs alone and mostly last. Ijele is a family of 4: the mother; father; police and palm wine taper which will be discussed under the Ijele family below.

Ijele family: Ijele Masquerade is a family of four:

Nne Ijele meaning "Mother of Ijele". She is a usually beautiful lady masquerade that holds a big ox tail with a carved enamel plate. It performs dances to flute and soft music.
Ijele Father called "Onuku": It has a big face and dresses in chieftaincy regalia. 

Ijele Police: they are usually six. Their duty is to ensure that the people do not encroach on Ijele father or mother.

Ijele Palm Wine Tapper: It accompanies Ijele for the sole purpose of picking its rear as it performs. Another significant personality is the Ijele fan carrier of Akupe carrier. It is not really a masquerade but it plays crucial role of leading the Ijele with its symbolic powerful fan called Akupe. Once the Ijele Looses sight of the fan and its carrier, it gets lost and it signifies danger. Ijele moves when the fan carrier moves and also stops when it stops.

IJELE MUSIC: Ijele dances majestically to the royal Igba-eze: dance of the Kings popularly called Akunechenyi. The musical instruments includes 4 drums, ogene, ubom, uyo, Ekwe, flute (Oja - ufele), wooden clapper (aja - oja) amongst others.

COSTUMES / SYMBOLS:

Ijele Mirror: This mysterious mirror picks and sees anyone with charm or destructive weapons. The mirror magnets the person to Ijele for punishment. This mirror is reflective and creates an aesthetic beauty.

Ijele Python: This is a big snake signifying royalty and mightiness of Ijele.
Ijele Cloth / Fabrics: Ijele fabrics popularly known as Ododo is expensive, colorful velvety materials. Ijele has all colors but yellow, black and red are pronounced.

Ijele Trees, Animals, White men, Carved Human Activities:
All these signifies wholesomeness of Ijele as every aspect of human life is depicted on Ijele masquerade. 

Mermaid Objects: Ijele is crowned up with mermaid objects signifying Ijele as the greatest of all masquerades.

Ijele Horse: The horse represents majesty and greatness.

Ijele has political, spiritual, social, psychological and recreational significance.

Spiritual / Social: Ijele performs at the burial ceremonies of great and powerful kings or special men and women in Igboland. It also performs at the burial ceremony of any member of the Ijele family or at the death of the oldest man in the community. Ijele mostly perform during the dry season to mark fertility and annual bountiful harvest. It can equally perform at special festivals and occasions. 

Political: Ijele gives the people the opportunity to re-affirm their loyalty. This affirmation comes in different ways, for example, dancing alongside the Ijele as it pays homage to a Chief or King, show ones total loyalty. If Ijele can bow, who else can not bow!

Psychological: The appearance depicts a high tone of events when different facet of Igbo recreational activities is displayed. Though in some communities in Anambra State, it is restricted to young boys and girls singing and dancing to the tune of Akunechenyi music, which features very prominently during this session.

Recreational: Its appearance depicts a high tone of events when different facet of Igbo recreational activities is displayed. Though in some Communities in Anambra State, it is restricted to young boys and girls singing and dancing to the Akunechenyi music which features very prominently during the festivals.

Conclusion:
Its worth to note that Ijele will never step out to perform unless (7) Cannon gunshot are released to the air alongside the sound of its royal music. Therefore, its would be nice to sum it up that Ijele is a Spiritual bond between a range of Communities in Anambra State of Nigeria which is harbinger of peace, amity, dialogue and a high sense of communality.
      

 Contributed by Comrade Biafra Diboh

 From Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

History Of Nigeria

Nigeria was a creation of the British colonial adventurer and empire builder. The March for markets, raw materials and the need to exert political influence overseas led Britain to journey to places as distant as Wikki in present day Borno State.To the Northwest, Sokoto came under her influence too. Deriving the name Nigeria from the word 'Niger' - the name of the river that constitutes the most remarkable geographical feature, the colonial master coupled together the diverse peoples North and South of the river and its tributary — the Benue — into a modem nation-state.

The vegetation in tile South is predominantly rain forest, but moving northwards one finds a belt of savannah and scrubland which gives way to the Sahara Desert. From across the desert came the earliest external influence to reach some of the areas now part of Nigeria.

That was Islamic faith and ideas which began to filter from North Africa, first into Kanern- Bornu. Although, at the time, it was the religion of a few elite until the nineteenth century. The Niger River, the name from which Nigeria is coined, empties into the Bights of Benin and Bonny, through an intricate network of Delta characterized by a thick mangrove which the British ventured in order to get prized items of trade in the nineteenth century. But this was after the trade in slaves had been outlawed in 1833.

SLAVE TRADE:

Sir Bernard Bourdillon

The external influence resulting from this trade brought tremendous impact on Nigeria. From the late 15th Century, Europeans began frequenting the Bights of Benin (now the Bights of Bonny), in search of tropical products and slaves. By the eighteenth century, the ports of Nigerian coastlines, mainly Lagos, Brass, Bonny and Old Calahar, had become centres of the trans-atlantic slave trade.

Trade routes from these ports extended through the communities of the South to the Hausa States. But the industrial revolution and the advent of the machine made the trade unnecessary and unprofitable. The aftermath was an increased interest in palm oil trade.

Sir John Macpherson

In 1849, the British Government appointed John Beecroft as the Governor of Bights of Benin and Bonny His job was to regulate commercial relations with the coastal city States. Backed by fierce gunboats, he interfered with the internal affairs of these States and the process which culminated in the imposition of colonial rule came afoot. There were also missionary interests at play. In 1861, Lagos was proclaimed crown colony.

And through the initiative of the United Africa Company, formed by George Goldie, through an amalgamation of British firms in 1879, most of the parts which became Northern Nigeria were preserved as British sphere to the chagrin of French and German competitors.

Sir James Robertson

The Company received a charter to administer it until 1899 when the charter was revoked, and tile British Government administered it directly, under the name "Protectorate of Northern Nigeria" The Delta Area had itself been proclaimed the Oil Rivers Protectorate, following the signing of a number of treaties between the local rulers and British consular officials.

Finally, in 1914, the two British administrations were merged, to form a single territorial unit known as Nigeria. This territory was administered by the British until 1960 when the Union Jack (British flag) was lowered for the Nigeria flag to take its place.