#Ekpo Masquerade Festival and the Culture of Annang Land. #This is SteemAlive

in hive-167622 •  3 years ago 

Firstly,
Let's define what is culture.
Culture can be define as a way of life of a group of people, behaviors, beliefs, values and symbols that are generally accepted without thinking about them.

FB_IMG_16354991823800283.jpg

FB_IMG_16354981581791156.jpg

FB_IMG_16354981524868313.jpg

FB_IMG_16354981693363575.jpg

FB_IMG_16354992849045612.jpg

FB_IMG_16354992776714405.jpg

FB_IMG_16354991712316713.jpg

FB_IMG_16354981635094593.jpg

Ekpo masquerade is a Cultural society art form that originates from the efik, ibibio and annang people.
IMG_20211201_144352.jpg

IMG_20211201_144236.jpg

Ekpo is founded on the belief in life after death; and it is regarded as the soul or ghost of ancestors that return to the land of the living in masquerade form to participate with their kinsmen in communal festivals such as farming and rites of passage.

As a secret society, membership is strictly by initiation; hence, every aspect of Ekpo is designed to strike awe, fear and caution among women and non-initiates.In the pre- colonial era, Ekpo served as the government of the entire Akwa Ibom people performing such functions as judicial, administrative and religious duties.

Usoro Ekpo Festival

In remembrance of the ancestors and gods of the land. A full month's celebration, this feast is associated with the annang extraction.

Like other African community, the annang people in Akwa Ibom state place a high expectation on the festival. The ekpo festival was considered as a link between the living and the ancestors.
IMG_20211201_162627.jpg

IMG_20211201_162557.jpg

The symbolism of Ekpo masquerade goes more than a mere celebration, there are the initiators of high quality governance in annang land long time ago.

THE EKPO FESTIVAL AND ITS HISTORY IN ANNANG LAND.

The ekpo was primarily to confirm that smart life was obtainable to all and virtually every child in annang community was forced to be a memeber.

The ekpo group begins to induct youngsters from above age 7 and 8,. The idea of ekpo was to produce high quality governance that excels human being, how ever expected to return from the ancestors and established by the founder of Annang tribe.

IMG_20211201_144539.jpg

IMG_20211201_144514.jpg

IMG_20211201_144414.jpg

Finally, Ekpo culture is predominantly all male affairs, solely the male provided leadership, this brought in some level of patriarchy. The male rule and still offer an area to the ladies in the group.

Authors get paid when people like you upvote their post.
If you enjoyed what you read here, create your account today and start earning FREE STEEM!
Sort Order:  

image.png