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From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
If you’ve never stood in an Emekuku village square in December, with drums rolling and a masquerader gliding past in a swirl of raffia and colour, then you haven’t really visited Owerri.
In Imo State, Owerri is the heartbeat of Igbo culture, and at the centre of that pulse is Emekuku Ancient Town, a place where masquerades are not mere entertainment. They are history, lineage, and living tradition.
Emekuku, in Owerri North, is made up of 10 villages and has produced giants, from National Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, a native of Azaraowalla, to Archbishop Emeritus AJV Obinna, who hails from Umuocham. But beyond leaders and rivers like Okitankwo, Onukwu, and Onumurukwa, Emekuku’s soul lives in its masquerades. Every year, after December 25th, the festival begins, moving from village to village until the last one has danced. Here are the four most ancient and popular masquerades that anchor the celebration:
Anunuebe: The One Birds Cannot Touch
Owned and displayed by Azaraegbelu village, Anunuebe is named after a tree so potent that legend says any bird that perches on it dies instantly. That same power follows the masquerader. Anunuebe does not move casually. Its presence commands silence and awe. For Azaraegbelu, it is a symbol of protection and ancestral authority, a reminder that some forces are not to be tested.
Igwekala: The Peaceful King of the Square. From Ubowalla village comes Igwekala, the crowd favourite. Unlike the more fearsome masquerades of Igboland, Igwekala is known for peace. Its dance is proud, measured, and magnetic. Children run toward it, not away. Elders nod in approval as it moves, because Igwekala represents dignity without threat. In a festival full of noise, Igwekala brings grace.
Ezeagbara: The Brother Who Returns Home they call this one. Also a child of peace, Ezeagbara belongs to Uboegbelu village and is regarded as Igwekala’s brother. The most moving moment of the Emekuku season is when Ezeagbara and Igwekala meet annually. Their reunion draws the biggest crowds. People stand smiling sheepishly, watching the two brothers greet, dance, and celebrate together. It’s not staged. It’s family. Ezeagbara’s calm energy balances the excitement, and, together, the brothers tell a story of unity that defines Emekuku.
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Eze Amuma: The Youngest, But Not the Weakest. The youngest of the four, Eze Amuma from Ezeogba village, enters with full strength and pride. Though new compared to the others, Eze Amuma holds its own. Its display is bold, peaceful, and full of energy, proving that tradition in Emekuku is not static. It grows, with each generation, adding its own voice.
The masquerade festival is the climax, but Emekuku’s cultural calendar is rich.
Uguzo Emeke is celebrated every November on an Nkwo market day.
Achara Ubo comes in March.
Then, from December 26th onward, the masquerades take over until every village has had its turn.
This is a town deeply rooted. The land gives three rivers. The people give leaders to government, the church, and beyond. And the ancestors give the masqueraders, to remind everyone where they come from.
So, if you are not from Emekuku, you are really missing a lot. Come in December. Stand in the square. Watch Anunuebe pass, watch the brothers meet, feel the drums in your chest.
