We woke up early on Tuesday morning (11th January 2022) making preparations to travel to Enugu State, Nigeria for my auntie's father in-law burial. We were supposed to leave as early as 6:30am since it's a very far journey, instead we left 8:30am. After much preparation, we encountered some challenges on our way.
First we forgot somethings at home, so we had to go back. The other one was the traffic we meant at Onicha bridge, it took us up to an hour at the bridge before we could pass through. That is Nigeria for you, whenever you enter Nigeria, one thing you must encounter is the traffic. Lol
I had to capture this lady selling Opa on my way, 
The Umu-Ada were neatly dressed in their blue attire. My aunt is the one on white attire, on our way to Enugu State, we sang and prayed while on the bus. After praying, we ate and drank water before getting to our destination. We got to the place at 1:25pm, at first I thought we were late, but it was the opposite of it.
The Igbos celebration is mostly during the evening hours, I was curious why their tradition is like that, but my aunt told me that it has always been like that. Even their marriage celebration is also during the evening hours. Lol
Getting to the venue, my aunties and uncles were happy to see each other. They both hugged themselves, I was very happy to also see my aunt after a very long time. We all went to sit down under the canopy, while the chiefs were performing the burial rituals before heading to the main venue for the burial.
They were varieties of foods to eat and drinks for everyone. They prepared bitter leaf soup with pounded yam, ogbonor soup and pounded yam, Jollof rice and chicken with salad. Many food for everyone, but I choose ogbonor soup and pounded yam 馃構, it was really delicious, especially the dry fish and stock fish that was in the soup. It was very tasty 馃構.
While we were eating and drinking, the traditional music players that came with us from Delta state was busy entertaining us with their wonderful and mind-blowing music and dance. They played for sometime before we headed to the main venue. The first place we stayed was my auntie's husband's house, as it is the tradition to first visit the first son before going to the burial ground.
While they were singing, my aunties decided to open the floor with our traditional dance moves. Lol, I never really knew my aunt could dance the way she did, it was really amazing videoing and taking a picture of them dancing.
We were set to match to the burial ground, to meet with the other people. The Traditional Music players lead the way by playing and dancing to the music. I'm the one on the second picture at the front taking selfie with the traditional music players, I was actually dancing then I realized I haven't taken a picture of me with anyone, so I had to take a shot before anything else. I was really stressed out, but there was enough strength in me to do anything I wanted. Lol
When we arrived at the venue, we met another Traditional Music players from Enugu State, they were neatly dressed with their red attire, playing their music with the traditional flute and drums, it was really fun seeing two different traditional music players, playing differently. The event was colourful
When I thought I've seen it all, was when the masquerades started entering one after the other. The M.C said that 20 masquerades will display at the burial. I had to ask my aunt if that was how the masquerades come whenever they have burial ceremony, but she said they only come out for chiefs, meaning my aunt's father-in-law was a chief before he died.
I got to understand that chief's burial is celebrated in a grand way. It was worth it because he died at the age of 101 years. This is called celebration of life in my home town.
I also asked why the masquerades didn't come out together, but they said if the come out together, they might beginning to fight each other since they are not the same masquerades. I was also told that back then in those days, whenever a masquerade wants to come out, the women/ladies will have to go inside to hide because it was forbidden for a lady to see a masquerade.
But everything is modernized now, anyone can see the masquerade without being harmed. But to some extent, a lady is not allowed to film or snap them, as most of them carry charms around their bodies and might harm the ladies. Lol, hilarious right, I found it funny at first until I was almost caught taking a picture of them. Because I was a visitor in the land, and didn't know their laws, I was pardon and was told never to snap them again.
This particular one is for entertainment, he comes out just to dance and entertain people in an occasion, according to them, this particular one does not harm anyone.
This one moves together, they're being tied to each other, I didn't ask much questions on this particular one, but I noticed many people where running away from it, even the men where also running away from it, so I guessed this particular one can harm anyone.
I guess this one should be the strongest because he came with a chief priest. I was real scared when I saw it, usually I do watch them in movies, but I've never come across them before.
They were many of them but we couldn't wait for all to come out because we had a long journey ahead of us. We had to go back to Delta state that same day. It was really a hectic day for everything.
On our way back home, we experience some difficulties, but thank God we got home safely. It was really a memorable day for me, I day I will never forget, I day I came across masquerades face-to-face.
I'm sure 
I'm also sure 
Thanks for reading my post, I hope you enjoyed it.