IGWEKALA MASQUERADE FESTIVAL

  It has become a tradition and culture for almost if not all villages around the world to have a festival at least once in a year. In Italy, once in every year, festivities are held in every village. Our focus today is the Igwekala masquerade festival.

From Obowalla, Emekuku in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo state, Igwekala masquerade festival. Igwekala is a name of a masquerade that appears once in every four years. Although, other smaller once come out every December.

In Obowella, Igwekala is regarded as the biggest masquerade. A compulsory selection is usually made by the kindred. The selection consist of older men of atleast 40 years or above. They are the coordinators.

The specified day for this festival is the Nkwo market. The people believe that the Igwekala is associated with the gods of the land so preparations are made at length. One common trend is that most of this masquerades come out during the Christmas and new year periods.

ELDER'S CORNER

Hello everyone, I bring to you some proverbs from the elder's corner. These are a few proverbs from the northern part of our beloved country.

Rua ba su yami banza

 Water does not get bitter without a cause. There is reason for everything

Ansan baki yana da j'an myo

It is well known that the mouth has red spittle(or that it looks red in the mouth), still white comes out. Though spittle in the mouth looks red, still when it comes out it is white. So, though you are hot with anger, let it come out cool. I know you are angry, still forgive him.

 Ba afafi giandumma ranan taffia

 The day of starting is not the time to prepare the giandumma. Giandumma, calabash with a narrow neck, which all carriers use for water on a march. Ffewa, hollowing out the pith from the inside of the giandumma. Don't leave a thing till the last minute.

 Later guys!

SALLAH CELEBRATION IN BAUCHI STATE

 Geographically, Bauchi State is located in the

northeastern part of Nigeria. The capital is Bauchi. The vegetation is mainly

savannah, with intermittent scrubs dotted here and there. The highlands are mainly

rocky and grassy with large expanse of lowland, which stretches for miles on end.

There are numerous streams and few rivers here and there which serve as fishing

grounds for the population. The people of Bauchi are mainly farmers, fishermen,

and crafts men. The language spoken is Hausa and the religion practised is Islam,

of which the people adhere strictly to the Islamic laws. So, it is worthy of note that

the people of Bauchi being core Islamic faithfuls celebrate ‘Sallah’ festivals.

“Sallah” festivals are of two types – the one during the fasting period (after the holy month of Ramadan) and the non- fasting period. During the celebration of the one before the fasting period which isknown as “Id el Fitri” the Chief Iman gives the go ahead after sighting the moon.

Immediately the moon is sighted, the fasting period starts, and this lasts for 29 days or if the moon is not sighted after, 30 days. In Bauchi, the inhabitants observe this period as a period of holiness and prayers are offered five times in a day. Fasting starts from 6:00am and ends 6:00pm daily.

This is observed strictly by all the inhabitants. Children and pregnant women as

well as older inhabitants are allowed to fast from 6:00am to 1:00pm as the case

may be. At the end of the 30 days fasting, all the inhabitants converge at

designated prayer grounds to offer prayers to Allah for a peaceful year and and a

year of progress.

In case of ‘Id el Kabir’ it is observed without fasting and this is celebrated as a

mark of respect for the climbing of mount Arafat in Mecca and to welcome back

home those pilgrims who went to Mecca to perform the ‘Hajj’. Happy sallah to you all.