By Kareem Azeez
01 June 2024 | 9:00 am
A lot of the Nigerian culture is going into forgetfulness, due to what we call civilisations. One of such is the Nmanwu festival. We forget each culture represents a unique tradition passed down through generations. To even understand these cultural practices are what gives us an identity of who we are, and where we are…
A lot of the Nigerian culture is going into forgetfulness, due to what we call civilisations. One of such is the Nmanwu festival.
We forget each culture represents a unique tradition passed down through generations.
To even understand these cultural practices are what gives us an identity of who we are, and where we are coming from.
Nmanwu festival. Photo. Steemit
Remembering the Nmanwu festival of the Igbos, in particular the Arochukwu people in Abia State. Taking into consideration what people who have participated in it have said.
The festival is held at the last quarter of every year, and could be compared to any festival around the world.
A festival of masks and spirits
Unlike more common ancestor veneration ceremonies, the Nmanwu Festival is a spectacle unlike any other.
Imagine towering, a carved wooden masks, some grotesque, some strangely beautiful, covering the faces of dancers in their steps.
These masks, known as Nmanwu, are believed to embody the spirits of the ancestors themselves, emerging from the spirit world to commune with the living.
A journey through ritual and revelation
The Nmanwu Festival is not merely a performance; it is a deeply spiritual experience.
Offerings are made, prayers chanted to the gods, and elaborate rituals performed by masked dancers.
The environment passes a message that shows the presence of the spirits, amidst us, they also see to the success of the whole ceremony.
READ ALSO: Celebrating Art and Afro-centric Culture: Orijin’s Vibrant Odyssey at AMIAF 2024
What are people saying about this age long culture.
The Nmanwu Festival is a captivating blend of artistic expression, spiritual connection, and historical preservation.
However; more than that, here are things you need to know and take home.
What does the masks signifies?
To Mrs Ezeakacha, though having spent almost all her times in Lagos, as a civil servant, she said. The masks are like windows into the soul of our ancestors, each intricate detail, from the choice of wood to the painted symbols, tells a story about their lives and wisdom.”
She also reveal the meaning of the celebration. , The 64 year old teacher, believes, it is a celebration created in history:
“The Nmanwu Festival is a reminder of our heritage, It connects us to our ancestors and ensures their knowledge and guidance are passed down to future generations.”
Meanwhile, Reuben Uzoma, a friend and also from Enugu, said, though he visits home only during the December period, the Nmanwu festival is that of transformation.
“Whenever we witness the Nmanwu dance, it fills us with a sense of belonging. It reminds us that we are part of something bigger than ourselves” Uzoma concluded.
