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Of all masquerades displayed by the clans in Rivers State of Nigeria, the Egwein, (with the exception of the Okrika Odum masquerade which in fact is the greatest of them all) receives far the greatest public attention and acclamation.
The Egwein masquerade attracts spectators not only from Okrika clan, but also neighbouring towns and villages in the Lower Niger Delta and beyond.
Even in Okrika clan, only two villages Bolo and Ogu - specialize in this type of display.
The other villages of the clan, though potentially capable have never attempted to disturb this monopoly by displaying bastardized forms.
The Egwein is an amphibious masquerade and always performs with a very young virgin, which symbolises the purity of the masquerade. Unlike the Pioru and Owu-Ama, the Egwein glides in a rhythmic pattern from a box-like costume that covers the lower part of the masquerades body. Whether on land or on sea, the rhythmic glides of the Egwein masquerade is a sight to behold.
Such unmistakable attraction, expressed in the large influx of spectators to the Egwein festival is a rare event, hence the excitement associated with it is not ruined by short-term cyclical performance.
Since the turn of the century, it is rare for people to see the same masquerade more than twice in a generation. Its display during this same period has often been connected with big occasions.
An example of such occasions is Festival For Arts and Culture (FESTAC ‘77) organised by the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture and Rivers State Illumination and Festival week (RIVIFEST ‘96) as organised by the Rivers State Government. Such big events are of course, few and far between.
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