EBGELEBGE FESTIVAL: The Unyeada Masquerade Game That Tests Bravery and Speed

 Every June, an ancient spirit comes to play—not to harm, but to awaken culture, challenge the youth, and shut down the streets of Unyeada in a fearless celebration of tradition.

In the deep creeks of Rivers State, inside the ancient Unyeada Kingdom, there's a spiritual play that shakes the land every year — Ebgelebge. It’s not your regular masquerade parade. This one carries blood, culture, and ancestral spirits. And every time it moves, Unyeada stands still.

But do you know where it all began?

They say the founding spirit behind Ebgelebge was a woman named Aye-Igbo, from the legendary Iyoba compound in Unyeada Kingdom. She wasn't just a regular fisherwoman. During one of her fishing trips to the creek, something spiritual happened — she encountered a divine presence, and from that moment, Ebgelebge was born. What she brought back wasn’t just a masquerade... it was an identity.

Every year — from June 21st to 23rd — the Ebgelebge Festival returns. For three full days, the people of Unyeada come together in spiritual excitement, community fun, and deep cultural expression. It's more than a show. It's who they are.

This masquerade doesn’t come out to scare or destroy. It comes out to entertain. But not just any kind of entertainment — this one carries ancestral weight. It’s playful, but respectful. Powerful, but peaceful. It brings unity, laughter, adrenaline, and cultural pride to the entire town.

Once Ebgelebge hits the streets, everything changes. The vibe turns electric. The drummers tighten their grip. Young men start warming up their legs. Children watch with curiosity. Traders close early. It’s time for the main act.

Now here’s how the play works. Ebgelebge doesn’t just flog anyhow. It doesn’t go after random people. It chases only young men who deliberately stand in its path with local drums. And once the sand from the drum hits the air, the masquerade reacts sharply — it charges forward with energy to flog the drummer.

And if Ebgelebge flogs you? No wahala. You just pay a little fine, maybe ₦20 or ₦50, to take back your drum and rejoin the play. The flogging is part of the fun, part of the drama, part of the tradition. Nobody takes it personally. In fact, some guys look forward to it.

But that’s not even the juiciest part.

There’s a special leaf tied to the head of Ebgelebge. If you’re bold and smart enough to plug that leaf without getting caught, the whole crowd will celebrate you like a local champion. But e no easy. Because the moment you pluck that leaf, you must run — fast. You don’t stand there waiting to be flogged. You dash off like your life depends on it.

If you escape, you become the hero of the day. People shout, jump, and cheer for you. But if Ebgelebge catches up and still flogs you before you run out of reach, the celebration ends there. You lose the game. That leaf becomes useless. That’s the rule. It’s fun, but it’s coded.

The spirit of the festival is lively but disciplined. Children know their limits. Adults respect the play. No weapons. No bad blood. Just raw culture in motion. Some people come from other communities just to watch. Others bring their smartphones and cameras to capture moments. But one thing is always clear — Ebgelebge owns the street.

And there’s one mysterious thing people have noticed for years. Rain must fall during Ebgelebge. It’s like a spiritual confirmation — that the ancestors have accepted the display. Even if it’s just light drizzling or cool showers, something always falls from the sky. If no rain shows up, people begin to wonder if something is wrong. But year after year, the rain answers. Nature responds.

As for music, the drumming is everything. Without it, Ebgelebge no dey move. Once the beat drops, the energy shifts. The masquerade charges. The crowd screams. And the game begins again. It’s like spiritual theatre — with rhythm and suspense.

Throughout the three days, the community stays alert but happy. No major injuries. No fights. Just coded flogging, brave runs, and street celebration. Even small children know the rules. If Ebgelebge is coming, you clear road. Simple.

But just when you think it's all about chaos and adrenaline, something deeply spiritual wraps it all up.

On the third day, around 7:30 pm, a sacred group called Ifit-Ikpak quietly takes over. They are seven covered figures who move slowly and silently through the town. No drums. No noise. No flogging. Their presence changes the entire atmosphere. People stop. Children whisper. Even the masquerade play ends.

The Ifit-Ikpak walk marks the end of the Ebgelebge outing. It’s like the elders of the spirit world coming to say, “Thank you. We have seen your play. Now let peace return.” And just like that, the town becomes calm. The breeze feels different. The madness ends.

This is why Ebgelebge is not just a masquerade. It’s a complete experience. It entertains, educates, and connects people with their roots. It preserves a history that textbooks cannot teach. It reminds the people of Unyeada who they are — bold, proud, and deeply spiritual.

Whether you’re from Rivers State or not, if you ever find yourself in Unyeada during June 21st to 23rd, go and witness Ebgelebge. You will not forget it.

From the drumming to the chasing, the flogging to the fine, the leaf to the cheering, and the final silence of Ifit-Ikpak — everything is coded. Everything is culture.

If you dey feel this culture the way I dey feel am, abeg drop your comment below. No dull! Like, share make the vibe reach far. Let the world know say Unyeada dey carry last for nothing. Culture na pride!

Ekpu Code:

“When culture runs, you don’t walk. You move with the spirit or you move aside.”

> Watch the real action from Unyeada!

Click the video here on my blog to see how Ebgelebge runs the streets — with singers, drummers, and brave young men trying to pluck the sacred leaf.

You go love am!

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