I see in this unique masterpiece, a thought-provoking and in fact an 'aggressive' scholarly work. Going through the pages of this work I have the impression that Dr. Umoh is philosophizing theology or perhaps is theologizing philosophy. By taking on and documenting this very noble parcel of our cultural heritage, I think he has done great honour to the whole tradition of our forefathers, preventing it from going into oblivion. Prof. V. G. Nyoyoko

This book is an endeavour to help readers, especially non-Africans, catch a glimpse of the magnificent cultural asset of the Ekpo masquerade cult of Annangland in Southern Nigeria. During the pre-colonial and the pre-Christian era before the eighteenth century, Ekpo played the role of an extraordinary governing arm of government. When this role was taken over by colonial and post-colonial security agents, the Ekpo institution found itself gradually losing out to modernity and turning into a semi-criminal, lawless bandit group disturbing the peace and tranquility of the Annang nation. By so...