Outrage as violent masquerade disrupts burial ceremony in Anambra

There has been outrage over the outing of a masquerade from Awgbu community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State during a burial ceremony on Monday.

The masquerade, identified by indigenes of the community as Agaba, is said to be famed and fiery, and usually appears only after 6pm when ceremonies are over, due to its destructive tendencies.

Multiple videos circulating online showed the masquerade unleashing violence on passersby, indigenes and even celebrants on Monday.

In one of the videos, the masquerade jumped onto the podium at the event and began destroying public address systems belonging to the master of ceremony, identified as Onowu, an indigene of the community.

In another video, the masquerade chased other smaller masquerades in the community who appeared to know its strength and ran as far as they could.

In two other videos, the masquerade pushed down two men who were riding peacefully on their motorcycles. One of them, an old man, and the other, a young man, reportedly hit his head on a parked car, with many suspecting that he sustained a fatal injury.

Meanwhile, there has been debate online over the propriety of the masquerade’s actions, with some people blaming the master of ceremony who resisted it in one of the videos.

Many said the man should have respected it like others and run away, while others, whose voices appeared louder, described the incident as cultural barbarism.

A Facebook user, Charles Ogbu, called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to ban the masquerade and sanction both the person behind it and its attendants, who were seen joining the masquerade in beating the man who resisted it.

Many also called on the leadership of Awgbu community to tame the masquerade and clip its wings, noting that the times have outgrown such practices.

However, another Facebook user, who identified himself as Jay, reported that the masquerade and its attendants had been arrested.

When DAILY POST reached out to the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, he said there was no such report before him.

It is, however, not yet clear what plans the Awgbu community has to tame the masquerade during future outings, as many are calling for it to be restrained with a leash held by a strong attendant to prevent destruction of property and threats to lives, as witnessed on Monday.

Outrage as violent masquerade disrupts burial ceremony in Anambra