Politics, Violence and Culture: The Ebira Tao Nigeria Experience.

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