Politics,Violence and Culture:The Ebira Tao Nigeria Experience
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©Professor Bassey Andah Centre for Cultural Studies University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Abstract
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Over the years Ekuechi (masquerade) Festival of the
Ebira people of Nigeria has drawn undue attention
because of violence that often characterized its
celebration. This paper examines politics, violence and
culture using Ebira Tao as a focus of study. The paper
finds that politicians in the course of contesting for
political offices often manipulate clannish sentiment
and masquerade festival (one aspect of Ebira culture)
for their political advantage which often results in
violence. This is often exacerbated because the idea of
obtaining permit with a guarantor before a masquerade
can perform has been discarded. The paper argues that
government's threat or imposition of outright ban on
the festival as a means of curbing cultural violence is
superficial and concludes therefore that there is need to
cut down on privileges concomitant with political
offices which often made competition for such offices
violent-ridden as well as addressing youth
unemployment
Keywords
JA Political science (General), JZ International relations