Shanty Theatre Takes on the Ijele Masquerade Performance

One of the wonderful things about Shanty Theatre is our audacity to go the extra mile to express our creativity. Our latest project was the creation of the Ijele Masquerade dance performance, which was spearheaded by our chief choreographer, Angela Uchenna Okolo. The performance took place at the Arts Theatre, University of Benin, Benin City on 10 August 2024.

Masquerade performance holds a special place in African Indigenous culture, particularly in Igbo culture. Masquerades are believed to embody the spirits of ancestors and are performed by initiates during special occasions within the ethnic group. In Igbo culture, the mask performance is a multifaceted art form combining costuming, impersonation, miming, sculpture, music, and dance. It holds significant religious, aesthetic, and psychological value, as it is thought to establish a connection between mythical beings and the living. The wearer of the mask, known as the mkpu or mma, represents the qualities of ancestors, gods, or supernatural beings.

Masks play a vital role in Igbo society, upholding public morality and conducting rituals during events like burials, festive occasions, and religious ceremonies. In many Igbo communities, masks are revered and believed to possess divine power, with offerings and prayers made for blessings such as good health and long life.

Researching the Masquerade

Executing a performance of such magnitude demands an exhaustive research process, which our research team at Shanty Theatre eagerly dove into, led by Angela. We delved deep into the intricacies of the beautiful traditions entrenched in the mask performance of the Igbo people of Nigeria. The research took to communities in Anambra State, where the Ijele Masquerade is most popular and the biggest masquerade. We acquainted ourselves with how to build the Ijele Masquerade, the significance of the masquerade to the Igbo people, and how to employ it—especially on the occasion of a burial ceremony of an important personality. This information was graciously given to us by community leaders at Onitsha in Anambra State. We got more information about the Ijele Masquerade performance from a video recording availed us by the community people and those posted on YouTube. These materials from our research provided us with the creative spark we needed.

Following a comprehensive exploration of the mask and masquerade traditions of the Igbos, we resolved to craft a sustainable performance that preserves the authentic essence of the masquerade tradition with a specific focus on the Ijele masquerade. This special masquerade, held in high esteem in Anambra and Enugu states, Nigeria, is revered as the king of all masquerades due to its sacred and unique nature. The masquerade holds great significance in Igbo culture, representing the identity of ancestors, politics, medicine, and the spirit world.

The Ijele Masquerade Tradition

Adorned with lavish costumes and gleaming ornaments, the Ijele enthralls its audience and serves as a symbol of prosperity, joy, and celebration; it embodies supernatural wisdom, strength, and purity. Often likened to an elephant due to its towering height of over four to six meters and a diameter of three meters, the Ijele is an awe-inspiring spectacle representing the beauty of the universe and the Igbo people's way of life.

Our performance pays homage to the rich traditions and symbolism associated with the Ijele masquerade, respectfully presenting its cultural significance sustainably and with dignity.

The Ijele is composed of over a thousand pieces sculpted from cane, bamboo, fabric, and foam. Its prominent motif, the eke (python), symbolizes the power of the river's god, Idemili, and is believed to embody the cosmos in Anambra Igbo culture and parts of Enugu state. The creation process of an Ijele mask is intricate and time-consuming, typically taking a year or more to complete and executed by a master-initiated sculptor using various materials and motifs. The skilled artisans responsible for creating the elaborate costumes for the Ijele masquerade belong to towns such as Aguleri, Achalla, and Umeleri in the Anambra Valley.

Our performance pays homage to the rich traditions and symbolism associated with the Ijele masquerade, respectfully presenting its cultural significance sustainably and with dignity. The use of colors in the Ijele and traditional Nigerian costume designs hold significant meanings, reflecting the Igbo people’s philosophy and day-to-day life experiences. Notable colors found on the Ijele masquerade include uhe (red), edo (yellow), atulu (atulu), ojii (black), nudu (green), and ocha (white). In Igbo traditional culture, red symbolizes power and authority; yellow signifies excitement, peace, and intellect; blue transmits tranquility and spiritual wisdom; black is usually associated with grief but also signifies protection and mystical prowess; green symbolizes growth, abundance, vitality, and connection to the natural world; and white symbolizes spiritual enlightenment, peace, protection, and good fortune. These colors were prominently used in the creation of our Ijele Masquerade.

The Ijele Masquerade is accompanied by a special band group known as Igba-eze. This grand masquerade is accompanied by musical instruments such as the Ogene, Ubom, UyoEkwe, drums, as well as the oja-ufele (flute) and aja-oja (wooden clapper).

As the Igba-eze band intensifies its rhythm, Ijele moves gracefully, despite its enormous size. Its carefully synchronized movements, executed with an air of majesty, are a dance unto themselves.

Creating the Masquerade

The process of creating the Ijele Masquerade performance was exhilarating. The choreographic concept was based on the themes of death, rites, rituals, and ancestral worship. It was inspired by Angela’s interest in exploring the theory of decentralization by Alwin Nikolais, which involves depersonalizing dancers through costume and design and focusing more on the overall spectacle. This theory helped interpret the ideas and convey the message embedded in the dance, which includes the religious and spiritual value of the Ijele masquerade hold in Igbo land , as it serves as a connection between them and their ancestors.

Auditions were held at the Arts Theatre, University of Benin, Benin City, and a total of fifty-three individuals, including cast and crew members, were involved in the production. Rehearsals occurred four times a week and required several weeks of painstaking work to complete the Ijele and smaller masquerades. Additionally, dance and mask tradition experts were invited to provide honest feedback and comments as part of the creation and rehearsal process before the final performance. Angela wrote a dance script of a burial procession to situate the masquerade performance in a functional space, synchronizing the arts of dance and drama.

Ijele Masquerade in Performance

The performance begins with the burial procession of Chief Nkemakonam Onyedikachi. The family and well-wishers carry his coffin and picture frame, followed by the chief priest and his assistants who perform a cleansing rite to clear the path of the dead as he journeys to be united with his ancestors. After the cleansing rites, the Achukwu (small masquerades) perform. The chief priest leads the dancers in performing the Igba ndi eze to usher in the Ijele masquerade. Small masquerade performances are very important in the whole process as they are seen as forerunners to the Ijele Masquerade, which makes a grand entrance. It was a captivating performance, as the dancers and small masquerades, led by the chief priest, displayed a masterful synergistic movement as they performed. Their energetic body movements and acrobatics were a sight to behold.

The Ijele Masquerade then emerges as a breathtaking spectacle, a fusion of tradition and contemporary performance art. The grand performance begins with the entrance of the renowned Igba-eze band, also known as the Akunechenyi or “Drums of the Kings.” As the lights dim, the deep resonant beats of the band’s four mighty drums pulse through the air, signaling the arrival of something extraordinary. The percussive soundscape, rich with the metallic clang of the ogene (metal gong), the wooden echoes of the ubom and Ekwe drums, and the rapid clacking of the aja-oja weaves a hypnotic rhythm that immediately captivates the audience. The melodious Oja-ufele flute fills the air with its haunting and lyrical notes, creating a sonic contrast to the powerful percussion. The band’s music swells, drawing the audience deeper into the unfolding narrative, its rhythmic patterns a perfect counterpart to the mesmerizing movements about to grace the stage. From the wings, the towering figure of Ijele makes its grand entrance. Standing at an awe-inspiring height, Ijele commands the stage, a living embodiment of Igbo cultural heritage. Once adorned with forty-five other masquerades in ancient times, this colossal figure now bears forty-five intricate figurines, each symbolizing a unique aspect of Igbo mythology and history. These figurines glitter under the stage lights, their colors and textures creating a visual feast for the audience.

As the Igba-eze band intensifies its rhythm, Ijele moves gracefully, despite its enormous size. Its carefully synchronized movements, executed with an air of majesty, are a dance unto themselves. Ijele performs alone, as the tradition dictates, and its presence is a celebration of power, honor, and the resilience of ancient customs. The Ijele mask bearers, chosen by a sacred ballot, have undergone a rigorous three-month seclusion, adhering to a special diet and lifestyle that has endowed them with the strength and spiritual fortitude necessary to carry the towering figure.

The stage is set in an expansive outdoor arena, large enough to accommodate Ijele’s considerable size. This majestic being generally performs during significant occasions like harvest festivals, coronations, and rites of passage in Igbo society, including the burial ceremonies of kings and elders. On this evening, the audience witnesses a celebration of fertility, strength, and continuity as Ijele takes center stage, marking a bountiful season and invoking blessings for the future.

At this moment, the Ijele masquerade is not just a performance but a living, breathing expression of cultural heritage, bringing the heart of Igbo tradition into the present day.

The Ijele moves to the tempo set by the Igba-eze band. The drums reverberate through the audience’s chests while the clatter of the aja-oja accents each step of the performance, adding layers of rhythm and texture to the atmosphere. The Ijele masquerade, with its ornate regalia and intricate mask, moves with both grace and gravitas, a testament to the spiritual preparation of its bearers and the cultural significance of the tradition itself.

As the performance reaches its crescendo, the synchronization between the masquerade and the band creates an almost otherworldly synergy. The entire space is alive with energy, pulsating with the rhythms of a tradition that has transcended time. At this moment, the Ijele masquerade is not just a performance but a living, breathing expression of cultural heritage, bringing the heart of Igbo tradition into the present day.

The performance concludes to thunderous applause. The audience is left in awe of the grandeur, history, and sheer spectacle they have just witnessed. This is more than theatre; it is a journey into the soul of a people, brought to life through the majestic dance of Ijele. As the final notes of the Igba-eze band fade into the night, the towering figure of Ijele makes its slow, deliberate exit, each step an echo of the powerful history it embodies. The stage, once filled with vibrant sound and motion, now holds a lingering sense of reverence. The audience, enraptured by the grandeur of the performance, sits in reflective silence before erupting into applause—a tribute to the cultural richness they’ve just experienced.

The Ijele masquerade performance is more than just a memory of spectacular movement and music. It tells a story—a living tapestry of the Igbo people's resilience, their respect for tradition, and the timeless dance between life and the spiritual world. Even after Ijele disappears, its impact remains imprinted in the hearts of those who witness its majesty. The resonance of the drums, the haunting melody of the flute, and the regal movements of the towering figure continue to echo within the space, reminding us that tradition, though ancient, is alive and evolving. The spirit of Ijele lingers as a symbol of continuity, strength, and the unbreakable bond between past, present, and future. The audience becomes a part of this living history, forever touched by the cultural spectacle they have witnessed, carrying with them the timeless essence of Ijele.