Metaphor and Symbolism in Sacred Costumes: The Omabe Masking of Orba in Purview

Abstract

The Omabe masking tradition of Orba, in Nsukka cultural enclave is a masquerade festival celebrated quadrennially by its members and adherents. The cultural heirloom has exhibited an expansive array of masquerades with a glut of metaphoric art objects and symbols to exemplify spirituality, aesthetics and social status. The spectacular cultural display enthralled a legion of scholars that wrote extensively on Omabe masking but scarcely ventured into a documentation of its metaphor and symbolism. Costuming is said to be sacred if it involves members of cults or groups who share common traditional trust and values. The leopard is a general symbol of the Omabe cult, and its bodily aesthetics greatly reflect the sacred costumes of Omabe masquerades. The spirals reflect mysticism and mythology as obtained in the Orba spiritual undertones, just as the sun-ray patterns symbolize the explosion of abundant blessings. The venerable treatment given to such costumes implies that only initiates are entitled to wear them. This paper explored and examined critically, the visual cultural elements of metaphor and symbolism in Omabe masking. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Findings showed that the artistic motifs on the Omabe costumes are as metaphoric as they are symbolic. And with a myriad of intricate motifs like (i) hued embroidery, (ii) collage and crochet, (iii) pendant and dotted leopard spots, (iv) sun or sunflower-shaped motifs, (v) the white threads that project from the position of the eyes, signifying sunrays and vibrancy, (vi) the fragments of mirrors and rattles, repelling evil forces, and (v) strands of thread and fur. Some motifs and collages translate to simplistic meanings while others remain the special reserve of cult members. The visual artistic imports of the Omabe costuming motifs can transcend immediacy, thereby becoming worthwhile prescriptions for industrial designs. The Omabe masquerade costumes epitomize art and Igbo philosophy in one mould. Keywords: Omabe, immediacy, metaphor, symbolism