UNESCO, Sep 25, 2009
Description: In many communities in the state of Anambra in south-eastern Nigeria, celebrations, burial ceremonies and other special occasions during the dry season to evoke fertility and a bountiful harvest feature the performance of the Ijele masquerade. The mask is about four metres tall so large that it takes a hundred men six months of work to prepare the costume and build an outdoor house to hold it before a performance. Divided into upper and lower segments by a large python at the centre, the ijele is constructed of colourful fabric on a skeleton of bamboo sticks and decorated with figurines and depictions of every aspect of life. The towering masked figure dances at the culmination of a series of other masquerades, protected by six police and carrying a mirror with the power to draw in and punish evildoers. Ijele mask carriers, chosen by ballot, seclude themselves for three months, during which they live on a special diet to acquire the strength necessary to don the mask. The masquerade plays a number of important roles in the community: spiritually, it marks both festive and solemn occasions; politically, it provides an opportunity to reaffirm loyalty to a chief or king.
Country(ies): Nigeria
© 2008 by A. B. Ajibola [The link to this post is no longer viable.]
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The word "Ijele" sounded like "e-JEH-le" to me in that video. [Pronunciation corrections welcome.]
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a video of and presents information about the Nigerian Masquerade known as "Ijele".
The content of this post is presented for folkloric and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thank all those who are associated with the video that is embedded in this post.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/05/references-to-igbo-highlife-singer.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "References To Igbo Highlife Singer Flavour As "Ijele" And Other Meanings Of the Word "Ijele" Besides A Direct Reference For The Igbo Masquerade".
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INFORMATION ABOUT IJELE MASQUESRADE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ijele_Masquerade
"Ijele Masquerade, known as the biggest Masquerade in
Sub-Saharan Africa, is a tradition of the Igbo people of Nigeria and was listed
in the UNESCO Archives as an intangible cultural element in need of urgent
safeguarding. In many communities in the state of Anambra in South-Eastern
Nigeria, celebrations, burial ceremonies and other special occasions during the
dry season to evoke fertility and a bountiful harvest feature the performance
of the Ijele masquerade.
[...]
Description
Ijele is the largest mask system ever to enter the history
of the world masking tradition. It comprises two segments: the upper and the
lower segments, divided at the centre by a big python. The upper segment is
called Mkpu Ijele while the lower segment is called Akpakwuru Ijele or Ogbanibe
and the centre is called Eke - Ogba (Python). Ijele towers about 15 ft to 12 ft
based on gravitational balance construction. It is built around the intricacy
of multicolor cloths, bamboo sticks and canes in line with a creative hand
element. Due to its weighty size, an outdoor big house must be prepared for
Ijele anywhere it will perform. It takes about 100 men to work for six months
in preparation of Ijele costumes and house before an outing performance.
Relevance of the Masquerade
Ijele is a special masquerade in Anambra and Enugu State,
Nigeria. It is the King of all Masquerades and as such has 45 different other
masquerades perform on top of it in the olden days. Presently, the 45
masquerades are represented by the 45 figurines seen on top of Ijele. The myth
and size of Ijele is wholesome as every aspect of life is depicted on Ijele. It
is the climax of all masquerades hence performs alone and mostly last. Ijele is
a family of 4: the mother; father; police and palm wine taper which will be
discussed under the Ijele family below.
Structure of the Masquerade
Nne Ijele meaning "Mother of Ijele". She is a usually beautiful lady masquerade that holds a big ox tail with a carved enamel plate. It performs dances to flute and soft music. Ijele Father called "Onuku": It has a big face and dresses in chieftaincy regalia.
Ijele Police: they are usually six. Their duty is to ensure that the people do not encroach on Ijele father or mother.
Ijele Palm Wine Tapper: It accompanies Ijele for the sole purpose of picking its rear as it performs. Another significant personality is the Ijele fan carrier of Akupe carrier. It is not really a masquerade but it plays crucial role of leading the Ijele with its symbolic powerful fan called Akupe. Once the Ijele loses sight of the fan and its carrier, it gets lost and it signifies danger. Ijele moves when the fan carrier moves and also stops when it stops.he tunes of Akunechenyi music.and culturally it provides a popular entertainment as young boys and girls sing and dance to
[…]
Costumes & Symbols
Ijele Mirror: This mysterious mirror picks and sees anyone
with charm or destructive weapons. The mirror magnets the person to Ijele for
punishment. This mirror is reflective and creates an aesthetic beauty.
Ijele Python: This is a big snake signifying royalty and mightiness of Ijele. Ijele Cloth / Fabrics: Ijele fabrics popularly known as Ododo is expensive, colorful velvety materials. Ijele has all colors but yellow, black and red are pronounced.
Ijele Trees, Animals, White men, Carved Human Activities: All these signifies wholesomeness of Ijele as every aspect of human life is depicted on Ijele masquerade.
Mermaid Objects: Ijele is crowned up with mermaid objects signifying Ijele as the greatest of all masquerades.
Ijele Horse: The horse represents majesty and greatness.
The Societal Impact & Significance of Ijele
Ijele has political, spiritual, social, psychological and recreational significance.
Spiritual / Social: Ijele performs at the burial ceremonies of great and powerful kings or special men and women in Igboland. It also performs at the burial ceremony of any member of the Ijele family or at the death of the oldest man in the community. Ijele mostly perform during the dry season to mark fertility and annual bountiful harvest. It can equally perform at special festivals and occasions.
Political: Ijele gives the people the opportunity to re-affirm their loyalty. This affirmation comes in different ways, for example, dancing alongside the Ijele as it pays homage to a Chief or King, show ones total loyalty. If Ijele can bow, who else can not bow!
Psychological: The appearance depicts a high tone of events when different facet of Igbo recreational activities is displayed. Though in some communities in Anambra State, it is restricted to young boys and girls singing and dancing to the tune of Akunechenyi music, which features very prominently during this session.
Recreational: Its appearance depicts a high tone of events when different facet of Igbo recreational activities is displayed. Though in some Communities in Anambra State, it is restricted to young boys and girls singing and dancing to the Akunechenyi music which features very prominently during the festivals.
Its worth to note that Ijele will never step out to perform unless Seven (7) Cannon gunshot are released to the air alongside the sound of its royal music. Therefore, its would be nice to sum it up that Ijele is a Spiritual bond between a range of Communities in Anambra State of Nigeria which is harbinger of peace, amity, dialogue and a high sense of communality,"
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