Njenje (walkabout) is the name of a parade that involves virtually an entire village's population. It opens the first day of the Dry Season Festival--a time Afikpo say "is our Christmas"--when rich meals, visits and ceremonies prevail.  Preparations require men in their twenties to organize into an age grade, lead the masquerade and assemble elaborate costumes that often involve loans of cloth and jewelry from sisters, wives, lovers and friends who eagerly await the parade. Secrecy from women and uninitiated boys is strictly enforced throughout the dressing process, which adds to the suspense of the audience, which watches players stroll through the village dressed as unmarried girls, Europeans, Muslims and children. How well the men imitate feminine guile in their stride and costume--or suggest the qualities of a schoolteacher, a minister, a lawyer, an office clerk or a white person--is a test of the persuasive skills of the males in the parade.

Opa Mma means "carry-child," and it is often referred to as the "queen" mask, with a motherly face that supports a child on her head.  Each masked player, dressed as an adolescent or young adult female, is adorned with a complex costume that incorporates a headdress with mirrors, multiple cloths, fiber necklaces, plastic waistbands and armbands. These female spirits walk with long strides, carrying canes and occasionally a vodka bottle.

Mma ji means "knife-yam" and refers to the top piece, which looks like a knife or machete.  This mask is worn by males from young boys to adult men, who can be costumed as a schoolboy, missionary, Muslim or westernized African.

Acali masks are small and have relatively big eyes, making them popular with young boys who have just been initiated. The people who wear them often appear at the end of an Njenje parade and may dress as a male scholar or Muslim.

An Afikpo play, called Okumpka, is a showcase for sophisticated humor. It is put on by the community for the community and offers direct comments about specific persons who have faced real situations but not fared well.  The play names names, exposing foibles in satirical songs that direct attention to the actions of particular people.  Because the players wear masks, they turn into mma, a type of spirit, and thereby have the freedom to be critical.  In just one play, up to fourteen short original songs and skits might turn attention to henpecked husbands, men who behave as if they are "rabbits of the night," men who are stingy, leaders who should speak up about issues but don't, leaders who take advantage of others, and men who don't act as men should but as foolish women. The powerful opening act of the play is the appearance of an impressive mass of costumed men who proceed into the village center and sit down there.  Audiences crowd in to listen and watch for hours, as songs with explicit lyrics unfold and highly skilled maskers perform related skits. Humor keeps people tuned in, as songs point out mistakes people have made, and the audience watches as the person mentioned reacts to being portrayed.

This mask is known as "father of the Okumkpa play" and is worn by the senior leader. Such a mask is the sign of a powerful masquerade creator and performer.  During plays, this character is the director of skits and songs and narrates the action for hours. The ritual value of this mask is evidenced by the egg shells on the surface.  Eggs are not normal food at Afikpo, but they are placed in shrines and given to diviners.

Also seen in Njenje, this mask is referred to as a "queen" mask.  Her face is female, and she carries a seated child on her head. During Okumpka, she is often hidden in the center of the crowd of seated performers. Known as a woman who rejects suitor after suitor until she finally relents, she is the center of great attention whenever she gets up to dance. Male performers do their best to be as graceful and delicate as possible in portraying her.

Although this mask has goat horns, it is often worn by musicians who don't act as horned animals, but who sit, drum and sing in the chorus during Okumpka.