Mmanwu // ⓘ is a traditional masquerade of the Igbo people of Southeastern Nigeria. They are performed only by males in exclusive secret societies and involve the use of elaborate, colorful costumes that are meant to invoke ancestral spirits. [1] .

Masquerades (Mmanwu) are held in accordance with the community native calendars during festivals, annual festivities, burial rites and other social gatherings. The masquerades are geared in colourful robes and masks made of wood or fabric. Some masks appear only at one festival, but the majority appears at many or all.

2025年1月27日 · The Igbo people of Nigeria are renowned for their rich cultural heritage, and among their most captivating traditions are masquerades, or “Mmanwu.” These events go beyond mere performances—they are a breathtaking mix of art, mystery, and deeply rooted spirituality.

2017年7月8日 · Mmanwu is a name for a traditional Igbo masquerade. It is meant to embody both the spirit and the human world and how they coexist. Despite the ever-present Western influence, mmanwu remains true to itself. There are several Igbo …

2013年2月9日 · Mmanwu is a traditional masquerade of the Igbos, to whom it used to be a major form of entertainment. Masquerades can differ from community to community, and from village to village. Masquerades festivals generally last for weeks and some may span over months, and were performed during the end of the harvest or start of the new planting season.

2020年3月16日 · The elegance, prestige, respect, and beauty given to the Mmanwu festival, is something that can’t be overlooked. It is enticing or rather appealing for the eyes to behold. The states observing this festival are Imo, Abia, Ebonyi Anambra, and Enugu.

2015年5月18日 · Mmanwu simply means masquerade. The Mmanwu festival is a celebration of masquerades. These masquerades are believed to be a re-incarnation of the spirit of the dead. In other words, the spirit of the dead is invoked into a masquerade.

Mmanwu is a name for traditional Igbo masquerade. It is meant to embody both the spirit and the human world where they co- exist. Despite the ever-present western influences, Mmanwu remain true and effective. The costumes for masquerades …

The Mmonwu masquerade (with its variant spelling as Mmanwu) is popular among the Ibos, Aboh, Ukwuani, and some clans in Isoko. The Isoko-Ukwuani Mmonwu places emphasis on Ancestral worship and it is said to be the worship of a deity, (Uyeri,2014) and a social group with some level of secrecy.

The Mmanwu festival, which features large displays of masquerades from various communities performing together, is aimed at preserving aspects of Igbo cultural heritage. They are performed only by males in exclusive secret societies and involve the use of elaborate, colorful costumes that are meant to invoke ancestral spirits.