Paper short abstract:

This study, anchored in Igbo society, an archetype of a patriarchal society, and their masking traditions, is situated within the debate around the struggle for gender equality. It raises people's consciousness to the taken-for-granted issues in masquerade activities that perpetrate patriarchy.

Paper long abstract:

Masquerading is an integral part of African culture that centres on land and the ancestors. In African societies, it seems as if men monopolise masquerading activities and women are not allowed to get directly involved or participate. This study is anchored in Igbo society and their masking traditions; Igbo society is an archetype of a patriarchal society. The argument of the paper is situated within the debate around the struggle for gender equality which is the main project of feminism. It tries to raise people's consciousness to the taken-for-granted issues in masquerade activities that help to reproduce and perpetrate the patriarchy. I have, as an initiate of a masquerade cult, participated in masquerade activities in parts of Igbo land for more than twenty-five years as a participant observer. I will, therefore, draw on my field notes, interviews, and photographic images, taken during field works. Apart from being active audience of masquerade activities and playing other key roles, women are inducted into masquerade cults and women inductees could commission and possess masquerades in some parts of Igbo land. Women do not take part in certain aspects of masking mainly because biology may not at times allow them. Therefore, the seemingly exclusion of women from masquerading activities is not a social construct to marginalise or debase the women but a recognition of their child-bearing role and its attendant constraints.