A PRECIS ON THE ORIGINS AND PRACTICES OF THE SEKIAPU MASQUERADE SOCIETY OF NEMBE, NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

Abstract

The origins, practices and cultural implications of the Nembe Sekiapu masquerade society were investigated. This was done to adduce reasons for the decline of the society’s activities and the negative perceptions and believes as a result of civilization and western religious beliefs that consider the society and their activities as demonic. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design methodology for the study. A structurally designed questionnaire was the research instrument used to obtain information for the study using oral interview method. The information gathered through the oral interview were analyzed and discussed in the study. Cultural imperialism theory was adopted and used for the study because the theory deals with imposition chain or foreign cultures on smaller cultures. The findings revealed that the Nembe masquerade society of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria was founded by a man known as kperighada and the Nembe Sekiapu masquerade is similar to that of the Kalabari's who are close neighbours of the Nembe people in the Niger Delta. The Nembe masquerade society has several masquerades in their possession that display periodically to entertain spectators as a way of also promoting the rich cultural tradition and heritage of their people. The masquerade was discovered by a fisherman who went for fishing after discovering the masquerade performance at a sea-shore by water spirits. The findings further revealed that the Sekiapu masquerade society events and activities have a lot of tourism, socio-economic and aesthetic implications that help to develop the region. Therefore it can be concluded that the mystification of the society is baseless as the activities of the society has also helped in promoting the culture of Nembe people. The Masquerade society should not relent in performing the festivals; and government and other individuals should financially support the society as there is nothing demonic about it.