An Appraisal of the Place of Mystical Technology in Nsukka Igbo Masquerade Institution

In pre-Christian Igbo communities, masquerades served as a common conscience and the most public art form, with successful performances bringing prestige and failure causing disgrace. Indigenous medicines were believed indispensable for ensuring success, though this aspect faced condemnation. Through oral interviews and participant observation, the study found that medicines were integral to various masquerade displays, alongside rituals addressing supernatural interference, preventing failure, boosting dignity, building fear, and extending myths. The authors argue that mystical technology was a valuable component of the Igbo masquerade institution, with potential for developing viable indigenous modern technologies if creatively built upon.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In the pre-Christian Igbo, masquerades were a common conscience of the communities where they existed, and the most public of all arts. Their successful performances brought prestige and their failure a total disgrace to the groups or communities that own them. Several means that included procurement and use of medicines were devised to ensure their successes in performances. The common belief was that indigenous medicines were indispensable components in masquerading. It is an aspect of Igbo masking traditions that was barraged with condemnations. The study enquired into the secrets behind the thaumaturgic performative acts and displays of the masquerades. Information was collected via oral interviews and participant observation, and was narratively analysed. Medicines were integral to the display of different categories of masquerades; nevertheless, other rituals were performed to take care of the supernatural and spirit world that interfere in human activities; to avoid failure, boost its dignity, build fear and awe, and extend its strange myths. Contribution: Mystical technology was a strong and valuable component of the Igbo masquerade institution that, if the Igbo society desires a meaningful and sustainable change for the future, must be creatively and systematically built upon. It has the potentials which, if well harnessed and aptly applied, will contribute meaningfully to the development of viable indigenous modern technologies.