One interesting thing about kids is that when they trust and love you, they tend to believe everything you tell them; even the most absurd lie will be believed by a kid without questioning, which makes it very easy for them to be manipulated.
One benefit of growing up in a peaceful, underdeveloped country is that you get to experience things even the Western world couldn't, and we are more connected to our roots. Growing up, there are many festivals we do observe in my community and this festival comes with a displace of masquerades. I had an aunt back then (Aunt Kate) who is late now, I was always with her and we had so many conversations based on different topics because I love to ask questions.
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One day, I asked her about the masquerade.
"Aunty Kate, all this masquerade that always dance in the street, why do dad and mom always keep us inside and we only see them from the window?"
I was curious because I always see this masquerade it, from inside the house without going out, also the spirits always holding long canes to flog anyone they meet on the street.
"Those masquerades are spirit o. It is not people that are there, it is evil spirit that is controlling it that's why they dance and move like that. Also, spirits don't like seeing human beings so they flog anyone they see on the road" Aunty Kate said to me and I believed everything.
One of the reasons I believe was that there are some masquerades I have seen that are so tall, would dance and bend with their body almost touching the floor.
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After time went on and I became an adult, I understood that the believe I had about masquerade being spiritual beings are all superficial. They are humans like us and I got to know about things some years ago. There was a time a masquerade was caught by the militant and was flogged mercilessly nuisance in the community. I also saw some video of youth in a fight with a masquerade and his costume were dismantled.
It was then I got to understand that masquerade are not being to be feared, they are just people given the job to entertain the audience during a festival. I hope you’ve learnt from my experience.
Thanks for reading.
This is my entry for the #hivenaija weekly prompt. You can do well to join and share your experience with some of the superstitions lies you where told in which you believed so dearly. Have a great day
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