Mmanwu Festival Imo State

The Mmanwu festival, which features large displays of masquerades from various communities performing together, is aimed at preserving aspects of Igbo cultural heritage.


The Mmanwu festival of the Igbo
They are performed only by males in exclusive secret societies and involve the use of elaborate, colorful costumes that are meant to invoke ancestral spirits.
Participants in these festivals are treated to dance, drama and other arts performed both by people and masquerades.



The word "Mmanwu" in Igbo means "spirits of the dead". It is the combination of two Igbo words "mmuo" or "maa" which means spirit and "onwu" which means death.[2] This refers to the purpose behind Mmanwu which is to create physical representations of spirits and ancestors through the adornment of the masks.