The Amgbu Institution in Ejagham
Amgbu also known as ‘Ator-tor-tor’ (one with unrestricted authority to say anything he sees or hears) is one of Ejagham traditional practices and cultural expressions. It is one of the minor branches of the Mgbe institution. Like Mgbe, Amgbu is occasionally manifested in a masquerading dance. It is an Ejagham night minstrel typically staged in Ocham Mgbe but can wonder its way to any part of the community.
Amgbu could be performed base on any of its multiple roles for which it exists or purely as a showcase of Ejagham heritage during festivals. Although Amgbu is generally performed at night, it can also be performed at any time of the day depending on the specific role it is intended for at the time. When Amgbu is performed for entertainment, and funeral purposes, members of the community sing and cheer along. When it performed for other specific roles other than entertainment, only the initiates participate. It is a typical male masquerade but women could accompany the masquerade during the day in singing only.
Amgbu masquerade in its historical appearance, is still maintained in most Ejagham communities. It has, however, been updated in others, taking advantage of Morden craftsmanship. In any case, in spite of enhancement of it physical aesthetic appearance, the essence of the institution remains the same.
The Origin of Amgbu
According to Barr. Akabum Agbor, “a direct descendant of Ntufam Asick – founder and first Chief of Inokun village”, Angbu originates from Babong village, Ejagham Njemaya cluster, in a forest called ” Abang-Aboka (the forest exit till this day).” “Till this day, if you visit the forest (Abang-abuka) in Babong village, if Angbu is being displayed in the village, you get the same sounds of songs in that far off forest as if the display of the masquerade is just beside you.”
The Role of Amgbu in Ejagham communities.
In the EjT group social media discussion forum, someone asked –
“I pray someone takes the time to explain to us the value of this Angbu to our society and its development. Apart from dancing with grass and masks, is there any function/benefit to this practice?”
The above question goes to the root of what EjT has been trumpeting, that Ejagham traditional practices and cultural expressions is not just about singing and dancing, there is the intellectual dimension to it. Responses to the question revealed that the over-arching role of Amgbu is cleansing the community and it does so in more ways than one.
Cleansing of the Community
There are many ways of traditionally cleansing the community of evil, disease and bad fortune in Ejagham, Amgbu is one of them.
Amgbu (for the men) Ekpa Atu (for the women) are used to cleanse the entire village of any bad spirits disturbing the entire village. Mfam, could be used by individual villagers to swear, in order to invoke the powers in it to chase anyone who must have stolen someone’s property, caused an illness, either by poison or witchcraft. Angbu comes out on behalf of the entire village to chase evil and not on individual bases.
Amgbu deter members of the community from living in contradiction to the norms and values of the community. He also plays the role of enforcement of sanctions on individuals and families.
Another role is that of exhumation of corpses of a suspected dead persons going around the community in ghost form, making members of the community live in fear. The exhumed corpse is cremated.
Angbu is a correctional and deterrent agent. Amgbu renders correctional services to the community by exposing ills in the community, sometimes derogatorily. Generally, at night Amgbu would expose series of crimes secretly committed by villagers such as theft, adultery, even fornication.
It is argued that Obasi-Njom pronounce witches and wizards but does not chase them. In this case, Obasi- Njom is like a prophet and prophesy on the happenings around. Then Angbu comes in to chase the said evil or cleanse the village of such evil. Obasi-Njom is allegedly more concerned with spiritual and sacred ills, while Amgbu reveals even secular socio-deviations of individuals.
Types of Amgbu
There are different types of Amgbu primarily based on the role they play. They include;
- Amgbu Efin – day time Amgbu: According to Barr. Leo Ekanem from Oban in Ejagham Akamkpa, Amgbu Efin also called Otemtem in Oban has four components, but in most cases, it’s only the main one in the cage that is always presented. The four components are;
- Nju Amgbu – the cage
- Ekpang Amgbu – the cane rack or basin bearer
- Ikpu Nne – the clowny hen-like dancer
- Amgbu Nda – the one with hyena or enlarged scrotum.
- Amgbu Okina-nne – Amgbu commissioned to burry a person, usually a suspected witch or wizard
- Amgbu Ofuha-nne – Amgbu that exhumes a person for cremation.
EjT Media
