NRI COLOURFUL DANCERS AND MASQUERADES

Onwa-agwu dance is a Social Dance of the Nri people of Anambra state, in the southeastern part of Nigeria.

Nri dancers usually take to the stage with a dance that is characterised by youthful exuberance and artistic excellence. This is always a joy to watch!

Nri dancers usually perform during important social events.
The dance is fluid and majestic, which seeks to capture the whole Nri core values of peace.
The drummers are extremely good but the flute is the main instrument in onwa-agwu dance as it dictates the pace of the dance.

The ancestral Town of Nri holds many festivities and cultural performance, most notably the masquerades.

In Nri town after the colonisation in the 20th century, masquerades became more relevant as an institution for cultural entertainment.

Currently, they are used more for tourist attractions when they come out in colourful robes accompanied by traditional dancers and music.

Masquerades are usually held in accordance with the community native calendars during festivals, burial and social gatherings.

Masquerades are associated with spiritual elements and this is a well kept secret that is performed exclusively by men.

In Nri town, the whole villagers would come out for the ceremony of the colourful masquerades and while entertaining through dances and exhibiting extra-human feats, these masquerades would walk up to certain individuals and loudly expose any bad habits and crimes.

Ijele masquerades are the largest mask system ever to enter the history of the world masking tradition.

Ijele towers are about 14ft to 15ft based on gravitational balance construction.
Due to his weighty size, an outdoor big house must be prepared for it anywhere it will perform and it takes about 50 men to work for five months before an outing performance.