Masquerade festival unites Iwo indigenes, visitors

Between August 6 and August 23, 2017, the ancient town of Iwo would be witnessing the performances of different masquerades and their followers as part of activities celebrating the annual Egungun festival of the town. TUNDE BUSARI who attended some aspects of the celebrations reports the huge influence that the celebration accorded those who have been in attendance.

Although there was a report of a clash between some supporters of two masquerades, an incident which landed them at the police station, the ongoing Egungun festival in Iwo, is reaffirming the secularity of the town.

Iwo is reputed for its large assemblage of Islamic faithful among other Yoruba towns of South-West Nigeria, hence its panegyric woven around the holy Quran. Aside Islam, Christianity also enjoys enough room in the town, especially with the presence of the Baptist-owned Bowen University.

One would assume that given the above, traditional festivals like Egungun could be said to have gone into extinction. This, however, is not to be as no fewer than eight traditional rulers stormed the town on the invitation of the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRashed Akanbi to share the fun of this year’s Egungun festival with him in his palace.

Remarkably, Oba Akanbi had the full complement of royal fathers led by the Olowu-Kuta of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Makama. Other traditional rulers on the list included Oloburo of Oburao, the Oloja of Agberire, the Onisaji of Okesaji, the Onisara of Eesu, the Oloburo of Oburo, the Onipasa of Ipasa, the Onigege of Igege and the Alawuje of Awuje.

All the monarchs watched and savoured the spectacular performances by about 40 masquerades each of which left the stage with ovation. The mammoth crowd that trooped to the palace of the Oluwo on August 12 spread to about 100 metres beyond the premises to recapture the sight at the Osun Osogbo festival.

Masquerades on parade included Sokoti, Olatidoye, Olobe, Ariwogundo, Otun Oje Kelebe, Ajia Oloola, Owolewa Adegbodu, Alegunlade Oloba and many more who charged the streets of the town on a daily basis.

Saturday Tribune gathered that sons and daughters of Iwo, resident in all parts of the country, traveled home to witness the festival to underscore the cultural significance of the festival to them.

One Mubasiru Adio, who claimed to have travelled home from his Niger State base, told our correspondent that the festival was like a journey back to his adolescence days in the town. Adio recollected how, as a primary school pupil, he would follow masquerades from noon till his parents searched for him late in the night.

“I did not come to Iwo because of another thing but this festival. I am a Muslim but I enjoy our culture to the extent that I don’t compromise it. I am not returning to Niger State until after the forthcoming Muslim Ileya festival. I am not one that confuses our culture with religion. What I watched at the palace really impressed me only that the masquerades are becoming too many,” the man who claimed to be a taxi driver in Minna, the Niger State capital, remarked.

Since the festival was flagged off, the streets of Iwo have seen unusual procession of the young and old who follow their choice masquerades about from dawn to dusk. The festival is more entertaining than one would ecpect, going by the variety of costumes with which the dresses of the masquerades are made. Such display has contributed in no small measure to the acceptance and appreciation of the masquerades.

Apart from that, the traditional head of all masquerades in Iwo, known as Alagbaa, Chief Ojelana Ojeseyi Gbolagoye said another relevance of masquerades is found in their use for performing rites for the town when the need arises.

According to the 50-year old man, who became the Alagbaa in 2005, such role has been assigned the masquerades from time immemorial, pointing out that no Yoruba town would toy with the idea of relegating masquerades to the rear.

“It is true that Islam and Christianity are spreading but they have not subsumed the traditional role which the masquerades perform in the life of Yoruba towns. It is the masquerade that performs sacrifice that towns need to do to prevent certain ills or bring some fortunes to the town. That is why I am the Alagba, and that is why you see the number of crowd following the masquerades about.

“Egungun is about our culture and tradition. I have to thank Baba Oluwo for supporting us and giving all necessary things to host this festival. Baba did not say because he is a Muslim and because the town is made up of many Muslims, he would not do it. We thank him for his understanding,” he said.

A few days to the beginning of the festival, there was apprehension in the town that the Oluwo would shut his door against the masquerades on the premise that he wanted to align with his Islamic faith.

While the rumour was making the round and some traditional worshippers protesting at their private gatherings, the Oluwo, however, had a different plan which caught them unawares and also eventually added more glamour to the festival.

Oba Akanbi declared that he decided to keep them guessing because he needed to receive the call from the supreme being, adding that he eventually invited other traditional rulers to witness the festival as a mark of his belief in the customs of the people.

He said there was no way he would have distanced himself from the festival as the father and custodian of culture and tradition of the town, reaffirming his commitment to the promotion of Yoruba culture.

Oba Akanbi added that Prophet Muhammed and Jesus Christ would not have won many converts if they had discriminated against idol worshippers while propagating Islam and Christianity in their respective era, calling for understanding among different religions.

“I realised that I needed to participate in the festival to further show them my disposition to them. If I want to convert them to my religion, I need to show them that I am tolerant. I need to identify with them as I did. Religion is not about compulsion. It is a voluntary thing and that is what I demonstrated to them. I gave them money. I gave the Alaagba money and he is very happy,” he said.

The Oluwo, however, said it was high time the masquerade embraced reform in order to earn his continued support for the festival. He noted with concern the apparel put on by the masquerade as outdated in the 21st Century, insisting that the era of wearing scary costume was gone.

He advocated for a reform that would see masquerades adorning attractive dresses that would elevate the festival for tourists’ attraction.

Demonstrating his resolve in this regards, Oba Akanbi instructed a masquerade, on visit to the palace, to remove some scary pieces of his costume, the directive which was followed and saw the masquerade appearing better and earning applause and more followers after leaving the palace premises.

“I did not mean to insult the masquerade. I only used that to show the public that our masquerade can be attractive instead of appearing like monster I the public. This is my mission. This is what I am going to pursue in order to give our culture a face-lift.

“Culture is not stagnant and it should not be tied to one point. Culture must follow natural trends to maintain relevance in the life of people. Nigeria has so many tourism potential, if they are well packaged. I am going to make it happen during my reign,” he said.

Safe for the minor clash among few supporters of two masquerades, the 2017 edition of the festival in Iwo is adjudged the best in recent time. The security measure in place ensured that the masquerades and their followers had free movement devoid of molestation or harassment by other faithful.

It was learnt that an Islamic group had issues with some masquerades who plied a particular route, an issue which had in the past resulted into a misunderstanding. The Alaagba said since the court had intervened, the masquerade had since complied and avoided the route.