AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF IBONO CULTURAL FESTIVAL ON THE PEOPLE OF IWOLLO OGHE OF ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Ibono also known as mmamwu Ibono is a popular masquerade festival celebrated not only by the people of Iwollo but also by the entire Oghe clans, including communities such as Olo, Awha and Amagu-Umulokpa, all located in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State of South-eastern Nigeria. Among the communities that celebrate the festival, the Ibono Iwollo masquerade cultural festival however remains the most popular, widely celebrated, outstanding, entertaining, and revered. As one of the surviving cultural festivals and practices of the Iwollo people, the Ibono Iwollo masquerade festival attracts large number of visitors and tourists from within and outside the community as well as neighboring villages, towns and communities. This paper examines the contributions of the festival to the socio-cultural and economic lives of the Iwollo people particularly in contemporary times and explores how it improves the public image of the community and its people. The study also investigates the challenges confronting the celebration of this festival, which have contributed to its gradual decline in quality, originality, and the preservation of associated customs and traditions. Furthermore, the paper also discusses the activities associated with the Ibono masquerade festival in Oghe and examines issues relating to masquerades and masquerading, particularly the exclusion of women from masquerade cult in Iwollo, Oghe and most parts of Igboland. Employing historical research methodology, the study utilized oral tradition and secondary sources of data, which provided the basis for the analysis and discussion of the subject. The study adopted both descriptive and analytical approaches, while the experiences and personal observations of the authors enriched the analysis. The paper recommends that the Ibono masquerade festival should be preserved and sustained to prevent it from going into extinction, as has been the case with many other cultural practices in Iwollo. Its preservation is important for posterity and for the continued promotion of the cultural heritage of the community despite criticisms and opposition from some adherents of certain Christian denominations, particularly those of Pentecostal extraction.