Mmanwu is a traditional masquerade of the Igbo people of Southeastern Nigeria. They are performed only by males in exclusive secret societies and involve the use of elaborate, colorful costumes that are meant to invoke ancestral spirits.
What is the meaning of Ijele in Igbo?
A submission from Nigeria says the name Ijele means “Ijele in Igbo land refers to one of the greatest masquerades, well-known for its dignity and grace. It is highly respected and adored. Conotatively, we use Ijele to refer to a person of honour and dignity”.
What masquerade means?
a party, dance, or other festive gathering of persons wearing masks and other disguises, and often elegant, historical, or fantastic costumes. a costume or disguise worn at such a gathering. false outward show; façade; pretense: a hypocrite’s masquerade of virtue.
What is a masquerade festival?
Masquerades (Mmanwu) are held in accordance with the community native calendars during festivals, annual festivities, burial rites and other social gatherings. The masquerades are geared in colourful robes and masks made of wood or fabric. Some masks appear only at one festival, but the majority appears at many or all.
What is a masquerade in Africa?
Masquerades are multimedia events that often include not one but several masked dancers embodying various spirits. For example, annual Egungun masquerades bring the ancestors back to town dressed in sumptuous cloths.
What is masquerade in Yoruba?
Egungun, (egúngún with Yorùbá language tone marks) in the broadest sense is any Yoruba masquerade or masked, costumed figure. More specifically, it is a Yoruba masquerade for ancestor reverence, or the ancestors themselves as a collective force.
What does Ijele Nwanyi mean?
Ijele-Nwanyi Is An Igbo-Priestess Who Is On An Infinite Journey. Ije Means Journey, Ele Means Infinity, And Nwanyi Is A Woman.
What’s the purpose of a masquerade?
Masquerades include lots of music and dancing. They are used for entertainment purposes as well as in celebrating rituals, such as the rites of passage and speaking to the dead as in the African tradition and cultural heritage.
What is another word for masquerade?
Masquerade Synonyms – WordHippo Thesaurus.
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What is another word for masquerade?
| disguise | pretenceUK |
|---|---|
| facade | façade |
| front | guise |
| act | pretenseUS |
| charade | deception |
What language is masquerade?
The noun is borrowed from Middle French mascarade, masquarade, masquerade (modern French mascarade (“masquerade, masque; farce”)), and its etymon Italian mascherata (“masquerade”), from maschera (“mask”) + -ata. Maschera is derived from Medieval Latin masca (“mask”): see further there.
Who is the father of Igbo?
The father of the Igbo people is Eri. Eri is the god-like founder of what is today Nigeria and is believed to have settled the region around 948.
What are the different types of masquerade masks?
There were two types of base masquerade masks; black masks and white masks. Designs and patterns were created over the base that was chosen. The main types of masks included masks with a stick (which one could hold to keep the mask in front of their face), the head mask, the full-face mask, and the half face mask.
What is Egungun dance?
Egungun is a visible manifestation of the spirits of departed ancestors who periodically revisit the human community for remembrance, celebration, and blessings. … The appearance of Egungun in a community is invariably accompanied by pomp and pageantry, drumming and dancing, singing and celebration.
Are masquerade balls real?
Masquerades are lavish costume parties where attendees wear masks and are held around the world. From Europe and America to Africa, you’ll find elaborate, masked parties and colorful festivals.
What are the four main types of masquerade dancers?
Four main types of masquerader are identified by the roles they play: those who embody deities or nature spirits and to whom sacrifice is made to assure the fertility of land and people, those who embody the ancestral spirits, those who placate the spirits through their dance, and those who perform principally as …