ANDONI NWANTAM MASQUERADE FESTIVAL

INTRODUCTION

Nwantam is an annual masquerade performance festival of the Andoni people which involves the entire
community on the first day of January. It is an embodiment of the visual and performing arts of the people
with educational, economic, religious/ritual and socio-economic values.

Andoni people are an Ijaw tribe in Rivers State of Nigeria. The Ijaw people are a collection of people with
many dialects, predominantly fisher men who settled along the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. They were
also referred to as Obolo people by the Portuguese who traded with them.

MASQUERADE PERFORMANCE

The masquerade performance is in two phases, in the morning and in the evening. The Nwantam masquerade
first comes out of the cemetery in the morning amidst music with his members to parade round the town. A
huge crowd of spectators follow them like a carnival to visit the king in his palace for blessings and also to
the compound of heroes, after which he goes back to the shrine in the cemetery.

In the evening, the Nwantam masquerade comes out again to visit the king in his palace with his members
before it starts to display on roof tops, suspending its heels from the ground. He jumps or somersaults
straight down to the ground, with a different type of music, different from that of the morning display. The
music gives them great inspiration in their performances. Cyril-Egware and Abassah(2016) opines that
traditional music is important to command life through leisure, generated by creative members of the dance
groups. The Nwantam cult members are usually creative as they use different music in their morning and
evening displays. The morning music is more of rituals and blessings while, the evening music is to entertain
the crowd of spectators.

The AndoniNwantam masquerade dancing steps depict the culture of the Andoni people which is different
from other cultures.

COSTUMES

The costumesused by the Nwantam masquerade are made from hand woven raffia and machine woven
fabric. The costumes are usually taken to the cemetery by the Nwantam cult members for sanctification
before use and members remain there also for sanctification, for seven days.

1. Black Cloth: -The Nwantam masquerade uses black cloth when coming out of the cemetery which
signifies mourning. It is believed that whenever the Nwantam masquerade comes out with the black
cloth it takes away any evil that will make the people of the community to mourn for the rest of the
year.
2. Leave (mgbek):- The masquerade also ties a leave known as Mgbek around the waist. This leave has
two purposes. The first is for fruitfulness or bountiful harvest for the rest of the year in fishing and
 farming. Mkpa-oro (2016). The Second one is that, it is believed to have the ability to ward off evil
spirits;Ejituwu(1991).
3. Broom:-masquerade holds broom with his hand. The broom serves two purposes. Firstly, to sweep
away or destroy evil such as sickness, barrenness, poverty and curses from the land. Secondly, to afflict
curses, spell sickness on the evil members of the community who have evil intentions to harm the
Nwantam masquerade.

CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE

Religious Significance- It instills discipline in the people’s life, as they get themselves sanctified, fully
prepared spiritually for the celebration ahead and keep themselves sacred. They thereby confine themselves
to the cemetery for moral discipline.

According to Ejituwu(1991), the celebration of the Nwantam masquerade festival sharpens the people’s way
of life in Andoni. During this period, they get themselves prepared spiritually and morally, otherwise known
as “Sydo-Holy”. This sanctification is done in the cemetery to get their soul (efuk) and body (akpalek)
connected to spiritual forces.

The AndoniNwantam masquerade serve as an aesthetic and religious significant to the Andoni people, it
brings beauty and purity to the land, and grant them protection for the rest of the year.

Economic Significance- The economy of the Andoni people is boosted because the king will give the
members of Nwantam money to buy everything that is needed for the masquerade displayed on the 1st of
January. Tourism will lead to money circulation as there will be ready market for buying and selling at all
levels. During this period citizens, friends and lovers of Andoni community will return home to
commemorate and pay homage to the royal family.

Cultural significance-The AndoniNwantam masquerade dancing steps depict the culture of the Andoni
people which is different from other cultures that perform the Nwantam masquerade.

The colourful carnival parades during the festival as it also serve as a medium of entrainment, pleasure and
tourism.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the Nwantam masquerade festival of the Andoni people is a vibrant celebration of the
community's culture and heritage. The Nwantam masquerade is an annual festival of the Andoni people in
Nigeria, celebrated on January 1st. It involves the entire community and showcases the visual and
performing arts, with educational, economic, religious, and cultural significance. The masquerade
performance occurs in the morning and evening, featuring dances and acrobatics. The costumes, made of
raffia and fabric, are sanctified in the cemetery. The festival holds religious importance, instills discipline,
and connects the community to spiritual forces. It also boosts the local economy through tourism and
stimulates cultural exchange.

References

Alagoa, E. J. (1977). Oral Tradition. . Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria: OnyomaResearch Publication.

Alagoa, E. J. &Kpone-Tonwe, S. (2002). "Traditions of Origin".Articles, Port Harcourt, Rivers State,

www. google search.com.

Cyril-Egware, P. I. &Abassah, U. M. (2016), Musical Instruments and Tools of EbreFestival as Motif on

www. Ijird.com

Ejituwu, N. C. (1991), “A History of Obolo (Andoni) in the Niger Delta” Publish Manson Publication. Co.
Lagos, Nigeria.

Ejituwu, N. C. (2010), An Outline of Obolo (Andoni)History in Modern Times. The Blue print Limited
Rivers State, Nigeria

Jaja, J. M. (2009), The Role of the Otam in the Nwaotam Dance Drama of the Opobo.” Unpublished
Material University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Webster, (2004) The New Webster’s Dictionary of English, International Edition New York Publishers CA
Mild

Znamierowski (1976), weaving: A Complete Introduction to the Craft of Weaving Illustrated in full colour.
Pan Books LTD: London
FIGURE 1: NWANTAM

FIG 2: NWANTAM ON THE ROOF DISPLAYING