The most potent and fearsome masquerade in Emekuku, is from Azaraegbelu and it is called Anunuebe.
Like the tree from where it is carved, no bird flies above the mask without instantly falling from the sky dead.
The mask doesn’t come out yearly although its devotees beat its songs yearly without the head.
On important days, especially Orie-Nwiniyi day, Anunuebe comes out from the land of the spirit and ritually visits shrines that dot the Azaraegbelu landscape before proceeding into the market square, to display its spiritual prowess. Able bodied men under the intoxicating influence of the spirit, gyrate and displace all known attributes of a warrior, shadowing war moves and killing of enemies.
Traditionally, it is believed that the ant whole from where Anunuebe comes from, is at Umuokoro.
But what is Anunuebe?
The mask of Azaraegbelu’s Anunuebe masquerade, is carved from the mystical tree, called Anunuebe. Anunuebe means animal does not perch. It is a tree that no animal perched on its branches or feed under its shoulders. Any bird that flies above it, dies instantly.
Anunuebe’s withered leaves, do not fall to the ground but into the catacomb of webs spun around it.
To approach this tree to take its leaves, bark or leave for any purpose, one must under go purification and conduct certain rites and rituals before approaching the tree.
According to ONWA, “Anunuebe is the most powerful and fearful tree in igboland……Anunuebe is a natural oracle.No human gets close to anunuebe tree not even a dibia unless the spirit residing in that tree left for a mission.. that’s the only time one can.”
Uses of parts of Anunuebe:
1.To carve mask. Masks carved from trunk of Anunuebe, radiates the powers of the spirit living in the Anunuebe tree.
2. Charm Neutralizer.
If you suspect an object to be a charm, kept for you or your loved ones by anybody, hitting that object with bark of Anunuebe, will neutralize it.
3. Anunuebe Soap. Made with extracts from the Anunuebe tree like the root, bark, and leaves. Anunuebe soap is used for protection against charms and as an anti-skin poison.
4.To Fight Witchcraft Attack. Barks or bathing with soap made from crushed leaves of Anunuebe or dropped around the house, wads off negative forces, especially witchcraft attacks.
5.Poison Antidote: Anunuebe’s bark or leaf, when chewed, induces vomiting, with will cause any digested poison to be vomited.
