Masquerades have their role to represent the spirit of ancestors in Igboland and they are usually on display to make traditional events which include Iwa- ji (new yam festival) colourful. The annual new yam festival of Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State, became a carnival of sort as all manners of masquerades featured and proved their mettle to the delight of spectators.

Speaking on the new yam festival and large turn-out of masquerades, a native doctor, Ambrose Tochukwu Anyakorah, who was flanked by his younger brother and former chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the council area, Mr Vincent Obiora Amakorah, said it was a period of thanking God for the harvesting of farm produce and preparation for new farming season.

He said: “I celebrate this new yam festival for my ancestors and good people of Nkwelle-Ezunaka”.

The native doctor added that the masquerades were not left out as they played a major role during traditional activities such as the new yam festival.

“These masquerades are of different types and shapes, we have the Ijere, Izaga, Agboghor Mmuo and the rest, you have the dancing ones too”, he stated.

“You have so many of these masquerades because people come from far and wide to enjoy and offer them money for entertaining them”, he stated further.

Speaking, Vincent Anyakorah expressed satisfaction with the festival, adding that the community was known for her hospitality and love for strangers.

Vincent, who is now the secretary of Anambra North Senatorial Zone of APGA, described the new yam festival as a period for interaction among friends, well-wishers and relations.

In a related development, the people of Enugwu-Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area, celebrated their new yam festival in a grand style as it was more of praise-singers who dominated the event.

In the words of Mr Ofobuike Isiogwugwu, who is the chairman of Enugwu-Aguleri vigilance group, “these praise singers abound in our community and we have the area naturally endowed with singers”.

He expressed satisfaction with the annual festival, adding: “We also use the period to unite and interact”.

On the security situation in the area, he said: “Kidnappers, armed robbers and assassins cannot come here because we have the power to catch them”.

He recalled how he recovered a stolen child and arrested those who stole the child.

Also speaking, a youth leader, who is simply identified as Itemba, said the new yam was mainly celebrated in the area than any other festival.