Nembe: History
It has an area of 760 km2 and an estimated population of 327,500 as at 2024. The postal code of the area is 562. Much of the area of the LGA is occupied by the Edumanom National Forest.
Nembe is one of the major communities in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The Nembe people primarily reside in Nembe Local Government Area, as well as in the towns of Twon Brass and Okpoama in Brass Local Government Area. They are also present in other coastal parts of Bayelsa State, reflecting their traditional livelihoods as fishermen, traders, and farmers.
The Nembe people speak the Nembe language, a sub-dialect of the Ijaw language. Like many other ethnic groups, they observe traditional customs and taboos. In Nembe Kingdom, the killing of snakes—particularly pythons—is forbidden and regarded as a serious offense. According to local folklore, the people have a longstanding cultural relationship with pythons, a connection passed down through generations.
The masquerade culture of the Nembe people is inherited from ancient times. The masquerade culture is an ageless and ancient traditional practice amongst the Nembe people. The masquerade culture has retained its basic features, and have continued to colour the social and cultural landscape of the Nembe people.
History or tradition has it that masquerades are spirit beings, and the belief of the Nembe people is that masquerades are spirit beings, signifying that the ancestors of the community are embodied in them. Masquerades appears in different forms and shapes and can perform in daytimes as well as in odd hours of the night. In Nembe land, masquerade displays are commonly seen in festive occasions or periods, and in burial of prominent personalities such as kings and chiefs. The Masquerade dance is also common during coronation ceremonies.
The Nembe masquerade culture can be traced to a dance club called Sekiapu. Claims have it that Sekiapu was founded in the 18th century by Meinyai Orugbani, the last son of King Mein of Nembe. He introduced the Sakiapu club which became a unified umbrella body of many masquerades from Kula, his maternal home.