The Ekpo masquerade (also known as Ekpo society masquerade) is a traditional masquerade tradition common among the Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom State in southeastern Nigeria. The Ekpo society is a secret society that uses masquerades to enforce social order, honour ancestors, and maintain moral discipline within the community. The masks used in Ekpo masquerades range from serene, beautiful faces (representing benevolent spirits) to grotesque, distorted faces (representing malevolent spirits or those who lived badly).
The Ekpo masquerade plays an important role in Ibibio culture as a form of social control, spiritual communication, and artistic expression. It is also found among the closely related Annang and Efik peoples of the same region.
The Eggon people of Nasarawa State, the Agatu of Benue State, and the Urhobo of Delta State each have their own distinct masquerade traditions, but the Ekpo masquerade is specifically associated with the Ibibio.
