INYIAGBAOKU, DANGEROUS MASQURADE OF AKEGBE UGWU, ENUGU

INYIAGBAOKU MASQURADE

Inyiagbaoku is a masqutade feared and respected in Enugu. It is well known and associated to Akegbe Ugwu people. Inyiagbaoku etymologically means a particular type of wood that can never burn in the fire. Inyiagbaoku is well fortified with fearful charms. With its beauty and admirable outlook it is preffered for masquerade outing. During outing the Akegbe Ugwu people does not fear of any sort of intimidation from the masquerade of other towns.

INYIAGBAOKU MASQURADE RENDERING DIRGE

Inyiagbaoku does not carry cain. It carries only its hand fan on the right hand and the ofor (charm) on the left hand. Virtually every part of its body is decorated with charms as you can see in the image. Inyiagbaoku is never afraid in any exchange of charms in ceremonies or outing. It does not charm other masquerade first but any masquerade that tries to charm it is automatically in trouble. It would just pin the masquerade in one place with its fearful charm.

INYIAGBAOKU MASQURADE ADORNED WITH CHARMS

Any masquerade the inyiagbaoku pins down is in trouble. The group that led the masquerade to the occasion comes to beg and appease the Inyiagbaoku before it could release the masquerade. Inyiagbaoku usually places a stringent condition on the release of any masquerade it pins down with its charm. First the group that brought the masqutade must bring a big ram and a cock. Then the Inyiagbaoku releases it and instructs them to go home immediately. Whether the occasion is over or not, the masqutade group goes for fear of further catastrophe. However there is usually a bad news about the victim masquerade the following morning.

THE WITCHCRAFT POWER

In this part if the globe, the African people , the Igbo people as a case study, what they know how to do best is witchcraft. When others are busy channelling their ingenuity in the production and invention of new goods and technologies they are busy using their charm powers to bring down those who are progressing. They are envious. They are diabolic and lazy.

By the way, what is witchcraft?

According to Wikipedia, " Witchcraft (also called witchery or
spellcraft) broadly means the practice of, and belief in, magical skills and abilities that are able to be exercised by individuals and certain social groups . Witchcraft is a complex concept that varies culturally and societally; therefore, it is difficult to define with precision [1] and cross-cultural assumptions about the meaning or significance of the term should be applied with caution. Witchcraft often occupies a religious,
divinatory or medicinal role, [2] and is often present within societies and groups whose cultural framework includes a magical world view"

With that definition I will tell you how the Igbo people view witchcraft. The raw form of witchcraft is when a diabolic person comes to you in the dream to fight you and when you wake up you will see the physical injury on your body, exactly the same way the witch or wizard attacked you in the dream.

There are however other subtle forms of witchcraft. Witchcraft is not only that toothless old man or old woman with haggard look. Witchcraft can be practiced by anybody irrespective of the age. There are men who acquire charms all over the place to prove themselves powerful. They use their charm to frustrate the efforts of their so-called enemies. They may pretend to be a friend and feign to be your helper. But after they help you they go underground to frustrate your progress. Those are the worst witches and wizards you will ever meet.