By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Fresh revelations have emerged about the identity and background of the young boy who tragically died on Sunday while participating in the annual Imo Awka festival in Awka, the capital of Anambra State.
Recall that the boy, who was clad in a masquerade costume, met his untimely death after being hit by a moving tricycle (Keke Napep) while parading along Ogechukwu Street, off Arthur Eze Avenue, during the cultural celebrations. The impact reportedly crushed his head, leading to an instant and gruesome death on the spot.
Eyewitnesses and online sources had earlier confirmed the sad development and lamented the fatal incident which has added a mourning tone to was supposed to be a colorful traditional festivity.
However, new information has now identified the deceased as 17-year-old Frank Anne, a native of Okperi Village in Amikwo Awka. He was said to be the first child of his mother and, more heartbreakingly, the only surviving son in his immediate family before his death.
According to a reliable source close to the family, who disclosed this in an interview with this reporter, the tragic accident was not the first blow the bereaved family had suffered in recent times, as Frank’s elder brother had also died earlier this year. With Frank’s demise, the family is now left with only two daughters and no surviving male child, a development that has thrown them into deep mourning.
“In fact, it’s a double tragedy. His elder brother died earlier this year, and now Frank too. It’s a very shocking loss for the family,” the source disclosed.
This reporter, Izunna Okafor, also gathered from some community members that the the boy was also buried the same Sunday of the incident, given the family’s financial situation and lack of resources to preserve the body in the mortuary.
The painful demise has continued to generate reactions across Awka and beyond, with many residents expressing concern over the continued loss of lives during the annual Imo Awka Festival. Others questioned the rationale behind involving teenagers and children in such high-risk street processions, especially without adequate safety measures in place.
“This is not the first time someone is dying during Imo Awka. There should be better regulation and protection for those who participate in the masquerade displays,” a netizens lamented.
Social media platforms have also been awash with mixed reactions, as while some users sympathized with the bereaved family and condemned the tragic accident, others mocked the idea that a “masquerade,”could die, raising cultural and theologicalquestions about the nature of masquerades.
Some critics have called on cultural custodians to rethink the location and method of hosting such festivals, suggesting a move to designated village squares or community arenas, instead of major roads, to avoid further loss of lives.
The Imo Awka Festival is one of the most revered cultural festivals in Awka Kingdom, symbolizing the return of ancestral spirits and celebrated with masquerade performances, spiritual rites, and street parades. However, the festival, which usually holds in May each year, has also been marred by at least one tragic incident nearly every season, raising public safety concerns.
