ABSTRACT
In order to locate Onyeweh and Omepa children's masquerades within the universe of Igede music and dance, this chapter compares the visual arts—the masks and costumes. It examines dance choreography, song texts, musical styles and instrumentation as a means of distinguishing between different types. In many ways Igede children's dance cannot be viewed as separate from the adult world, for children get co-opted into adult activities and their music making is important to Igede communities for a number of reasons. The membership in the Onyeweh Boy's Ensemble of Andibla village is younger than the Omepa Ensemble, and few, if any, teenage boys are members. The Ogbete girls' association ostensibly serves to train girls for membership in Imwo and Ihih women's associations. The role women play in the traditional sociopolitical life is articulated by their membership in women's societies such as Imwo or Ihih. The expanding sector of Igede associational life is that of the mixed dance groups.
