Gwandara tribe in Nigeria are highly acclaimed for their traditional dancing patterns which covers different social gathering. This cultural practice has given them a unique cultural identity. They have different dancing patterns that revolve round their masquerade. However, the famous Gwandara masquerade dance that brought honor to the people include:
- Abokyo
- Okoku
- Akuki
- Anaruko
- Adamaruko
- Akililinki dance patterns.
The most outstanding of these star attraction is the Akuki masquerade dance. The masquerade mask is sworn by men and it is forbidden for women to see the masquerade yet it is compulsory for the women to dance with the Akuki masquerade. But to resolve this obvious contradiction, women pay a token amount of money before and after the dance. Perhaps it is important to note that the Gwandara women involvement in the dance is driven by the ‘bori spirit’ which enables them to continuously hit the ground as they dance possessed with unusual strength while the masquerade itself shakes it’s beads of decorated gourds to produce even rhythm with the drummer to create a harmonic music for the Bori/Akuki performance.
Abokyo On the other hand, Gwandara tribe also have a special treat for tourists when they perform the Adamaruko masquerade dance which is usually organized to celebrate the turban of a new chief to commemorate a play organized by the community or other social gathering. The Adamaruko masquerade is a social masquerade that has no inhibition whatsoever to spectators or to women.it is not proceeded by any sacrifices or initiation, neither is it a taboo to see it or participate in it. Tourists should feel free to text their dancing skills with the Adamaruko masquerade and they discovered that even with all the exploits of science and technology our ancestral for-bearers (as represented by the masquerade) are still better dancers.
.. .. . to be continued! Written by: HRH Dr. S. Ayih | Edited by Musa Muhammed-Mustapha.