THE LOST PRINCESS : EPISODES 51-THE END
EPISODE 51
*Few days later*
“Now Princess you have been taught the moral etiquette of this kingdom, now let’s move to the history and origin of this Noble kingdom” Amaka the head maid instructed.
“Yes ma’am” she replied.
“Well Princess you Will have to drop all these your American replies you are in Nigeria now”.
“Ok I get it, can we just move on to the origin” she said with distaste in her voice.
“Yes my princess, Ijele kingdom was originated from old Anambra state here in Nigeria many centuries ago”.
“Ok?”
“This Noble kingdom is represented by a great masquerade and it is the biggest masquerade in the sub saharan Africa.
It is a tradition of the igbo people listed by the UNESCO archives as an intangible masking tradition”.
“Why intangible?” She asked.
“It was considered intangible because it’s difficult to describe and understand the masquerade, is so big” Amaka explained.
“Continue” she said.
“It comprises of two segment: the upper and lower segment divided at the center by a big python”.
“What? Python” she shriek ” did you just say python? Is it living or dead?”.
“You don’t cease to flatter me Princess, it dead python of course do you want it to kill the masquerade inhabitants?” Amaka laughed.
“Oh” she smiled.
“The upper segment is called MKPU Ijele while the lower segment is called AKPAKWURU Ijele or Ogbanibe and the centre is called Eke ogba that’s the python”.
“I can’t even pronounce the names you are calling” she laughed.
“Ijele towers about 15feets to 12feets based on gravitational balance construction”.
“Wow this masquerade is very large then 15feet?” She wowed.
“Yes my princess it’s built around the intricay of multi colored clothes, bamboo sticks and came in line with a creative hand element.
Due to it 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”.
“100 men to work for six months just for costumes and house? I guess that’s why it’s intangible”.
“Yes Princess”.
“Our kindom is the largest mask system ever to enter the history of the world masking tradition”.
“Like is there music or anything played for this masquerade?”.
“Yes the masquerade has a special brand of band group that entertain it whenever it performs.
It dances majestically to the royal band group called and known as Igbaeze.
Royal band group or literally known as drums of the king popularly called Akunechenyi in our language, the musical instruments include 4drums Ogene, Uyo, Ekwe flute (oja ufele) wooden clapper (Aja oja) amongst other”.
“This is interesting is that all?”.
“Nope Princess The masquerade has it own mirror” Amaka informed.
“Mirror? What does a masquerade want to do with a mirror?” She asked.
“Let me explain to you, the Ijele’s mirror picks up and sees anyone with charm or destructive weapon”.
“How?”.
“The mirror magnets the person to Ijele for punishment. This mirror is reflective and creates an aesthetic beauty.
THE LOST PRINCESS : EPISODES 51-THE END
Click 2 below to continue reading