I live in Lagos, Nigeria. Lagos is the commercial heart of Nigeria. With a Gross Domestic Product that is bigger than those of Kenya and Ghana combined, Lagos has been pronounced the fifth largest economy in Africa.
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The city which boast of a rich culture and historical heritage has always been seen taking giant steps in preserving its cultural heritage and to further develop them into international standard to boost tourism, employment generation and relaxation.
Lagos is home to various festivals and one of such is the Eyo festival. The Eyo festival is a Yoruba (Yoruba is one of the major ethnic group) festival which has been adjudged to be the biggest in Lagos. It is also known as the Adamu Orisa Play.
According to historians, the first procession in Lagos was on February 20, 1854 and it was held to commemorate the life of Oba Akintoye. The Adamu Orisa play was first staged at Oke Ipa. Oke Ipa is what we know today as the lagoon end of Glover Road, a choice area in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Being the earliest location of the play, Oke Ipa plays host to the Kings, Chiefs and top dignitaries who often travel from their palaces and home to watch the Adamu Orisa play.
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Prior to the festival being modified into a cultural exhibition of richness and splendour, it used to be a festival which was held, in ancient times, to guide the souls of departed Kings (King in Yoruba is known as Oba) or Chiefs in Lagos and sometimes to usher in or to enthrone a new King.
The Eyo festival has been largely transformed into a tourist event and it is traditionally performed in Lagos. However, it has been staged in recent times to commemorate prominent Lagosians who have passed and it has also been witnessed to have been staged to honour foreign dignitaries.
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Tafawa Balewa Square, formerly known as Race Course, is a ceremonial ground in Lagos Island, Lagos and this monumental ground has been the host to the foremost Eyo festival in recent times.
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The word “Eyo” refers to the costumed dancers, who are masquerades, that comes out of an Iga (known as Palace) of a ruling family in the morning and make their way to the shrine (known as Agodo). The Eyo masquerades represent the spirit of the dead and are referred to as ”Agogoro”, in the Yoruba language. They make their appearances during the festival and are garbed in white regalia which covers the masquerader from head to toe. The Eyo masquerade also wears an hat which is called “Akete”. This hat bears the colours of the Iga where the person comes from. This masquerades wield a stick or staff which is called Opambata and each masquerade may tie ribbons, which is always the colour of his Iga, on their staff.
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The Eyo masquerade is strictly for adult male. However, there have been cases of a male child being robed as an Eyo. The Eyo masquerade move around the Lagos Island axis while their families and supporters follows and cheer them on. Top dignitaries, families and supporters are often seen wearing the hat with colourful ribbons and also wields a staff but are never garbed in white regalia as seen on the Eyo masquerades.
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During the festive display, whenever an Eyo masquerade comes in contact with anyone, he simply greet them in Yoruba, saying “Don’t fear anything, have a taste of the palm tree”, and he taps the person with his staff (Opambata) on the shoulder. When given money, the masquerade goes further to pray for the person and also recite the praise song of his Iga.
The Eyo festival being one the biggest event always witness a massive turnout of crowd from within and outsides the shores of Nigeria. The gracefulness and theatretical spectacle of thousands of masqueraders in their immaculate white regalia with hats carefully embellished with colourful ribbons, always thrills everyone in attendance. This elegant display of the Eyo festival’s richness also comes with singing and dancing from crowd supporters moving around with the Eyo masquerades.
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The festival is always held on a Saturday and the tradition of the festival forbid visitors, families and crowd supporters from wearing shoes within the vicinity of the masquerades. Females are required are further instructed not to wear any form of head ties to the event. This is usually sent out as a warning prior to the commencement of the event by the Oba of Lagos.
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This year’s Eyo festival, 2017, conincides with the 50th anniversary of Lagos State. The festival was part of the long list of activities to celebrate 50 years after Lagos State was created from the old Western Region on May 27, 1967 by the then Military head of state, general Yakubu Gowon. The event took place at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Saturday, May 20, 2017 and it was graced by the Governor of Lagos State and lots of top dignitaries. The venue witnessed a mammoth turnout of Lagosians who defied the early morning rainstorm just to be a part of the Eyo festival.
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Despite being drenched by the heavy downpour and also stained by red mud and erosions, the Eyo masqueraders and their crowd supporters were not dispirited as they were seen dancing and singing cheerfully.
The Eyo festival is a pageantry which comes with lots of fun as it exhibits the rich cultural history of the people of Lagos. It has remain a major tourist attraction for the state and its economic benefit to the residents of Lagos Island and the state as a whole cannot be over emphasized.
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