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I was just going through the Internet last night when I saw something that got me all smiles.
In Africa, masquerades are very popular as every tribe and nation even community have their distinctive costume and they all represent different aspects of our culture, they represent certain gods and beliefs, it is a huge part of our culture.
When I was a kid, a group of foreigners from America came to my village in Nigeria to explore our cultural system and learn our beliefs, they took pictures and today I came across those specific pictures and I recognized them because the shoot was just at the back of my fathers house where we usually played soccer and I know the name of the explorer who came because I see the pictures credited to him in persons of Phyllis Galembo
I vividly remember that my Dad asked me to run to our uncle's house who was in charge of our masquerades and invite him to come over to the house. When he came over they started discussing that "they need to take pictures with the masquerade" for some magazines and press stuff, well I had no idea what they meant back then due to the fact that they was no Internet yet nor even mobile phones, I didn't even know thy existed😂. Moments later my uncle had mobilized people who wear the masquerades and they were ready for a photo shoot. ***I really wish I could travel home to take photos of the original copies in my dad's study, but I'm far away from home😭, anyway I will still give you a sneak peak to some of the picture I came across.
In the first picture is my Aunt on the left and my stepmother on the right
In the second picture is my uncle the father on Aunt in the first image
In the third picture is my cousin on the far right and his friend I can't remember the person in the middle though
Looking at these pictures just reminds me of so much I actually forgot about, about childhood and I remember almost everyone who wore one of the costumes as I was standing just by the comer watching.
We used to replicate this masquerade shows within our small peer groups and I think that really played a major role in passing down the culture from one generation to another because during that process we learn the specific dance moves for each masquerade, learn how to beat the drums and so on...
Seeing this pictures really gladdens my heart I wish I can get in touch with Phyllis Galembo to say hi and remind him of this day in history and also let him know that that little boy that was helping them back in 2004 is now a grown 👨 man.
I remember how sad was when they left my village and all I could imagine was myself being an explorer someday and probably meeting up with them to share memories.
When you grow up in a place that attract tourist, you get to meet a lot of people, some you will never forget and some even after being reminded you still might not be able to recall and I also realized these kind of experiences can so much you even can pick up a drive towards them hoping to become someone like them when you grow old but then life happens.
Have you come across anything that reminds you of childhood memories you probably forgot about before? I would really love to hear your story, feel free to share in the comment section..
photo credit: Phyllis Galembo