INSTRUMENT OF STABILITY: A STUDY OF MASQUERADE IN IGBO TRADITIONAL SOCIETY

Abstract

The masquerade enforces order and discipline in Igbo traditional society. Masquerading is a
very effective means that sustained peace and order, settlement of disputes, good
governmenance among Igbo communities in the past. The roles performed by the
masquerade in Igbo society seems to be dwindling at this age due to westernization; western
religion and globalization. It seems that crimes are in the increase in recent times than in the
past when people feared the masquerade so much. The study therefore, sought to assess and
evaluate the roles of the masquerade in Igbo traditional society to ascertain its place in the
modern Igbo society. The study is descriptive in nature. Data collection was through oral
consultations, observations and library sources. The study shows that masquerades perform
various roles in Igbo traditional society. Masquerades are instrumental in maintaining law
and order, acting as an agent of justice among other roles. The roles performed by the
masquerade helped in the stability of Igbo traditional society. However the roles performed
by the masquerades have been very much affected by westernization, as most of the roles
they perform have been taken over by modern agencies, such as the police and other law
enforcement agencies. It is advisable that the modern agencies should work diligently to
ensure that the modern Igbo society will be more stable than what it was in the past. A
stabilized society is a peaceful and a progressive one