In a recent interview with actor and producer Seun Oloketuyi, Nollywood veteran Jide Kosoko shared an extraordinary and unsettling experience he once witnessed involving a masquerade and an affair. Kosoko’s revelation stunned listeners as he recounted a time when a man disguised as an Ekun masquerade entered another man’s home to engage in an intimate relationship with the man’s wife.
Kosoko explained that the event took place years ago, and as surprising as it was, he was the one who intervened to resolve the issue. “I have witnessed Egungun (masquerade), a person from Ekun, moving into the residence of another man in order to have a good time with the wife of the other man,” he said. “I have witnessed that in the past. I was the one who provided a solution to the problem.”
The incident raised questions about the role of masquerades in society, particularly the Ekun masquerades, who are considered sacred and untouchable by some community members. Kosoko pointed out that in traditional beliefs, no one dares to question the actions of an Ekun masquerade, which may have contributed to the audacity of the individual involved in the affair.
“If a movie were to depict this event, there would be some individuals who would see it as an idea that they could replicate,” Kosoko warned. He expressed concern about how such stories could influence people’s behavior. Kosoko was particularly apprehensive that people might attempt to mimic what they saw on screen, especially considering the reverence and fear surrounding masquerades in certain parts of Nigerian society.
The actor reflected on how the untouchable status of Ekun masquerades could give individuals a false sense of invincibility. He elaborated, saying, “Now, some individuals will develop an idea from that movie, and if it is done in a movie, they will say, ‘Oh, actually, because nobody can question any Ekun person, I can do this.’”
