Masquerades are highly revered in Africa especially among the Igbo... They are seen as representations and embodiments of the dead. Their activities and performances are held in awe and high esteem. The Adamma masquerade is no exception. It is a maiden masked masquerade indigenous to Ngwo people which has an elaborate elegance to itself. The masquerade is usually adorned in a female regalia. The name Adamma loosely translates to a beautiful woman. And 'Ada' means the first daughter of the family while 'mma' means beautiful.
     Adamma masquerade has two kids which it normally went out with in its earliest days of performances. The kids whenever they got exhausted and hungry usually ran to their mother to drink of her breasts. This was no doubt part of  the masquerade's performance in entertainment of spectators.
      Notably, the masquerade has its origin in Amon where it was called Okeriegwe. The name Adamma was birthed by the people of Akama. A story was told by Chief Alphonsus Ozoani on the incident that led to the change of name by Akama people. According to the Chief, a time came when Enugu state government orgnaized a cultural festival which many villages were expected to perform at. And the information about this festival was brought to Amon people by an indigene, Cosmas Ozoani who was in sports at that point in time. But a man versed in culture by name Igbo Nw'ude brought Amon people to the fact that their masquerade, Okeriegwe, did not perform outside the Amon enclave and so they didn't go for the festival.
        Akama people getting wind of this, took the opportunity and formed their own Okeriegwe masquerade and named it Adamma in order to perform at the festival. That was how the masquerade came to be called Adamma.
       Evidently, the Adamma masquerade doesn't have any spiritual significance except its use in entertainments. It has in modern times been monitized, so that before it came to any ceremony or festival, it must be highly paid to perform.
      However, the culture of the Adamma masquerade is fast going into extinction as most of its initiates have turned into Christianity and some gone into the white man's land in search for greener pastures.