The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Masquerade

  • Masquerade in Police net for stabbing man to death in Ondo

    A suspected masquerade has been apprehended in Akure, the Ondo State capital by the Police for allegedly stabbing a young man to death.

    Sources said the incident occured at Olomoyeye Street, Oke-Aro, Akure when the deceased identified as Femi Makanjuola went to buy some food items.

    He was said to have been accosted by the masquerade who demanded for money.

    Eye witness said the deceased had just secured a job with Dangote Cement Company.

    The masquerade and his accomplice reportedly stabbed Makanjuola to death after he was said to have refused to yield to the demand of the masquerade.

    He said “Makanjuola resides with his brother, he had secured a job with Dangote cement company in Benin city with the hope of resuming office on Monday, 8th October 2018.

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    “He was preparing to cook beans and had gone to a nearby shop for ingredients to spice up the food when he met his death.

    It was also alleged that their had been an altercation between the alleged killer and the deceased some weeks ago, which was said to have
    been settled by mother of the deceased, Mrs. Monisola Awosanmi who also confirmed the preexisting animosity between her slain son and the father of the alleged killer.

    Parading the suspect at the State Police Command,its Spokesman, Femi Joseph who confirmed the incident, said the chief priest of the masquerade crew had been arrested.

    The PPRO maintained that preliminary investigation into the matter have already commenced with the suspect already assisting the police with relevant information.

    He said “All Over the world what we know about masquerade dance is to entertain the people. What happened in Akure was to the contrary.

    “Five young boys were on a outing with one of them acting as a masqurader, and they got to where one Femi Makanjuola was. The masqueraders demanded money which the deceased refused to give and this did not go down well with them.

    “The argument led to the stabbing of the deceased after he had been thoroughly beaten by the masqueraders and his followers.

    “Investigation is ongoing towards apprehending other accomplices involved in the crime”.

    However, the suspected masquerade who has been identified as Olu Olowokere denied involvement in the killing of Makanjuola.

  • Masquerade beats okada man into coma in Ondo community over N1000 gift

    There was pandemonium penultimate Tuesday in the Itafaaji area of Oke- Igbo, Ondo State, after a masquerade, Olojede, allegedly brutalised a man called Oyewale Isaac during a row over N1000.

    The money was allegedly given to some youths during the masquerade festival held in the community.

    It was learnt that the Isaac encountered the masquerade, while he was begging for money from people.

    Isaac , a commercial motorcyclist popularly called okada and his friends who were at the venue of the festival were said to have jokingly told the masquerade that they had no money, and that they were willing to take money from the masquerade, if he had any.

    Trouble however started after an unidentified man arrived the scene and gave a sum of N1000 to another masquerade identified as ‘Mopol’, who in turn shared the money with Isaac and his friends.

    It was while Isaac was trying to keep the money in his pocket that Olojede emerged and asked him to surrender the money to him.

  • Masqueraders: Olubadan, Obas row deepens

    The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, and the Otun Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, yesterday quarrelled over the foremost monarch’s directive that no masquerade should dance in the home of any high chief, now beaded crown-wearing obas.

    It was learnt that though the Olubadan expressed satisfaction with the compliance of his directive banning masquerade dance in the family compound of his estranged high chiefs until further notice, he was said to have accused Oba Balogun of violating the order.

    The foremost monarch in Ibadan said he had no regret issuing the royal directive.

    Oba Balogun had described the monarch’s directive as misuse of power.

    He also threatened to have a masquerade dance in his compound, contrary to Olubadan’s directive.

    In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by his Personal Assistant/Director of Media and Public Affairs, Mr Adeola Oloko, the Olubadan described Oba Balogun’s claim that he (Oba Balogun) hosted a masquerade show in his compound as empty and deceitful.

    The foremost oba said the Egungun Festival purportedly staged at a location in Alli Iwo (Oba Balogun’s compound) was not authentic.

    He urged the residents to beware of falsehood.

    According to him, when some masqueraders paid homage to him at his palace last Monday, there were photographs that could be verified in the papers and the names of those at the outing were there.

    Oba Adetunji said: “Where are their photographs? What are the names of the masqueraders?

    “Even Atipako, the leading masquerade, who was reported to have honoured High Chief Lekan Balogun, was not there as the Atipako family of Kobomoje in Ibadan had issued a disclaimer.

    “Part of the text, dated June 21, addressed to the Olubadan and signed by Tajudeen Oladimeji and Kazim Atipako, the Abe’ja and Eleru Atipako, reads: ‘We, the undersigned and entire members of Atipako family, did not in any way disobey the directive of the Olubadan. We did not attend a masquerade dance nor performed any ritual for the Otun Olubadan, as reported in some quarters. One woman, Rashidat, who is claiming to be one of us, is not a member of our family and was not sent to anybody. Therefore, as a woman, she is not permitted to perform any ritual.’”

    Expressing appreciation to the masqueraders for carrying out the royal directive to the letter, the Olubadan said the make-belief being created was a price for rebellion.

    The eminent monarch said the people of Ibadan had spoken.

  • Group condemns masquerades’ attack on Catholic priest

    Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has called for the prosecution of masqueraders, who attacked a Catholic seminarian in Nsukka on March 29.

    A Catholic seminarian, Lawrence Ezeugwu, was attacked by masqueraders in Nsukka, and was beaten to coma at Ugwuoyia, Nsukka, Enugu State.

    The group, in a statement on Tuesday, condemned the exhibition of religious extremism by traditionalists, describing it as crude.

    Akintola called on the Inspector-General of Police, to ensure that those who carried out the attack are fished out and punished.

    “We call the attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria to the excesses of traditionalists, particularly in Southern Nigeria.

    “Even in the South-West, the Oro cult worshippers behave as if they are above the law.

    “Traditionalists impose illegal curfew without being challenged by the authorities.

    “A good example is the curfew imposed by Oro cultists in Ikorodu, Lagos State, during the last Ramadan season, which nearly caused a violent clash between Muslims and traditionalists.

    “It is well known that Muslims shuttle between the mosques and their homes day and night during Ramadan.

    “The imposition of a curfew during such a period was not only illegal but also provocative.

    “Although the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Section 38 (i) & (ii) guarantees freedom of religion, thereby empowering traditionalists to freely practice their faith.

    “It does not allow one group to laud it over another.

    “The right of traditionalists to religious freedom stops where it begins to encroach on others’ rights and vice versa.

    “For genuine and enduring peace, Nigerians must learn to respect one another’s rights.

    “This country has witnessed too many human and material losses as a result of religious crisis.

    “And the only way to guard against recurrence is for the authorities to strictly apply sanctions against those who violate the sanctity of religious freedom,” the group said.

    MURIC also advised state and local governments to ban illegal proclamation of curfews by cultists.

  • Now, a masquerade nails the masquerade

    The Nigerian political theatre often resembles the most outlandish scenes out of the fevered imagination of the masters of the genre known as Magical Realism, particularly the late Columbian genius, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Whenever actual reality trumps magic, that is the stuff of magical realism.

    For over three decades, this writer has been contending that in Nigeria you don’t need to read any novel when you are living in the real thing. Nigeria is a perpetual movie. All you need to do is to sit back and enjoy the moveable feast of surreal politics in the land of living ghosts.

    The travelling theatre of political absurdity has now berthed at the magical confluence of the two great rivers that define modern Nigeria: the Niger and the Benue.Lokoja used to be a pleasant serene place frozen in colonial memorabilia. Lugard lived there. It was a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic paradise in line with the most benign vision of a multi-nation country.

    But not anymore. Things have fallen apart. Everybody seemed to be angry with everybody and everybody seemed to be in court against everybody. The ruling party seems to have shot itself in the foot through sheer carelessness. Beware of the careless habits of accuracy, Oscar Wilde famously warned.

    Matters seemed to have come to a head last week when the entourage of the governor’s wife decided it was time to pay a visit to EkinrinAdde, the homestead of James AbiodunFaleke, the once and future governor-presumptive of the state. The governor’s wife, despite all the paraphernalia of modern state power, was put to flight by a dreaded local masquerade which suddenly appeared out of nowhere literally spitting fire.

    But the governor, Yahaya Bello, is having none of that nonsense. He has reportedly ordered the local council chairman to produce the masquerade or forfeit his monthly subvention. Now, now, isn’t that a tall idea? In Yoruba culture, the masquerade is known as araorun kin kinkin or he that has his abode in heaven. Since the masquerade has presumably gone back to where he came from, would it not amount to asking the council chairman to fall on his sword by asking him to produce the errant masqo?

    In Yoruba parlance, an ayorunbo is somebody who steals back to earth from heaven. While growing up, snooper knew one that smelt like a skunk and kept a sealed lip to the bargain. Since the governor is very adamant, the embattled council chairman should consult an ayorunbowho would lead him to heaven and back. Or let him request for Amos Tutuola who knows something about the land of the unreturnable.(Orunaremabo).

  • My journey into arts began with the masquerade tradition

    My journey into arts began with the masquerade tradition

    Segun Adefila, founder of Crown Troupe of Africa, a dance drama group, in this interview with Dorcas Egede told of the trials and triumphs of the group’s 20 year journey and where he sees it in another five years

    When and how did this all begin?

    1. I’ve always loved the arts without knowing what it was called. But I was born into it. Between the age of 7 and 10, I lived in my village, Omuaran in Kwara state. That was where I was exposed to the masquerade tradition. When I came back to Lagos in 1982, I realised I loved performing. I felt at home whenever I was dancing as a child….

    My journey into Arts began with Black Image in 1995.I instantly felt at home with the group the moment I walked into their rehearsal venue. It was this group that first gave me the opportunity to express myself…. In 1996, something happened and I left the group. With encouragement of some friends, we started Crown Troupe in June 1996. We didn’t start the group to become famous or make money. We were just doing our thing.

    In 1997, I decided to get formal training. So, I studied for a certificate in drama, after which I went ahead to get a degree in Creative Arts, both from the University of Lagos. With my exposure to the masquerade tradition, what I learnt from Black Image and the experiences I gathered while studying, I was set for the Arts.

    Since your father wanted you to study medicine or engineering, I imagine he didn’t support you when you chose Arts. How were you able to cope without parental support?

    It was God.But I was also determined. At a point I left my father’s house and moved in with my friends. And while other young people our age were busy watching football matches, we moved about, looking for people to entertain.

    So, how have you been getting funding?

    People have just been cropping up from all angles to help us. We have been using this space for free in the last 3 years. When Crown Troupe started, we didn’t have even one drum. We started in Sunny Ade’s sitting room. It was one barber opposite his house that offered us his drum. That was how we got our first drum.

    Do you ever get government support for this thing you do?

    Support? Crown Troupe has performed in Aso Rock before, but we don’t get funding from government. The only support we need from government is for them to provide basic social amenities for us. If we have electricity, good roads and freedom of expression, that’s the much support we need.

    Have you been harassed by the authorities in the course of carrying out your duties as an artist?

    I am not stifled. I don’t know if other artists are stifled. If anyone tries to stifle me, I’ll bite off the person’s finger. Fela and earlier artists have paid the price and cleared the way for us.An artist is easy to deal with. If you think he has written something that is offensive to you, you don’t have to treat him like a criminal. Take him to court and fine him, not fight him with guns. I’ve never really had that kind of confrontation from the authorities. Ironically, my confrontations come from the people we’re speaking for, the common man.

    So, did Crown Troupe turn 20 recently?

    We will be 20 on the first of June. But to mark our 20th anniversary, we will be having a project with the British Council from February to April. We will be performing a play by Shakespeare in Lagos, Calabar and Abuja, sponsored by the British Council in commemoration of Shakespeare, as this year marks the 400th year of his death.May to June we’ll be having another project with the Goethe Institute. In July we’re performing Wole Soyinka’s Death and the king’s Horsemen.

    How has the last twenty years been?

    It’s been exciting, challenging. Crown Troupe has taken us places. We have performed from the smallest to the biggest shows, both home and abroad.

    Where do you see Crown Troupe 5 years from now?

    We’re looking at a situation where Crown Troupe will be a formally established academy where people can attend and be issued certificates. We currently train artists, it’s just not formal.

    Finally, tell us the source of your inspiration?

    God. We are like transistor radios. Besides, the society writes our scripts for us, as it were. We live in a dramatic society. If I want to write a song for instance, I don’t need to look too far, there’s always something happening around me from which I can tell a story.

  • Police arrest masquerades for armed robbery

    The Enugu state police command on Saturday arrested two masquerades for alleged armed robbery.

    A police bulletin sent by the command’s spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu indicated that it was a new ploy of armed robbery operations.

    The new dimension occurred at Ovoko in Igboeze South local council of the Nsukka area command.

    According to Amaraizu, the two masquerades “allegedly robbed a member of the public some amount of money to the tune of about seventy thousand naira as well as some other valuables amongst other things.‎”

    He said the police have commenced a full scale investigations into the alleged incident of robbing by masquerading.

    It was gathered that the two men behind the masquerades were already helping operatives in their investigations.

    The police,however, advised masqurade operators to always be law abiding and respect the tenets of culture and remain law abiding in the operations of masquarade as well as its activities in the state.

  • Masquerade stabs 60-year-old man to death

    60-year-old man has been stabbed to death by masquerade.

    The incident happened at Umuofiagu Ukehe in Igoetiti Local Government Area of Enugu State.

    The police in Enugu have commenced investigations into the alleged incident.

    Police spokesman said it was gathered that the masquarade later identified to have been borne by one Chinedu Iyioke allegedly stabbed Emma Nnamani in the lower abdomen.

    The victim was, however, rushed to Elechi Hospital for medical attention but later gave up the ghost.

    The body of the deceased has been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy just as the said Chinedu Iyioke the man beraing the masque had been arrested by the police and was assisting them them in their investigations.