The Eyo masquerades
A festival, as defined, by the dictionary, is a day or period of celebration, which is typically for religious reasons. Festivals can also be celebrated for reasons other than religious reasons. For example, there are music and art festivals all over the world that hold annually or biannually, where people come together to celebrate and enjoy great works of art.
Eyo Bajulaiye Ineso masquerade in a residential area of Lagos near the Tafawa Balewa Square
One cultural festival that holds in my country would be the Eyo festival. The Eyo festival is also the Adamu Orisha play. It is celebrated by the Yoruba people of Nigeria in Lagos state. I have never personally attended The festival as I live in Ibadan, Oyo State. Most of what I know about the festival is from what I've heard from the elders and what the media portrayed of the festival as I was growing up. The festival was celebrated back in the olden days to escort the soul of a departed king and usher in a new king. In modern times though, the festival is more of a tourist attraction to draw investment and business to the state.
The last celebration of Eyo festival was held on the 20th of May, 2017. It was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lagos state and to celebrate the life of late and times of the late Oba of Ikate Kingdom, Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi Kunsela.
The festival typically involves an announcement of the festival a week before the festival is to hold, which is usually on a Saturday. On the day of the featival, the main highway in the heart of the city (from the end of Carter Bridge to Tinubu Square) is closed to traffic, allowing for uninterrupted procession from Idumota to the Iga Idunganran palace.
Everyone pays homage to the reigning Oba(king) and there is a lot of dancing and merry to celebrate the day and festival. There are certain prohibited things and items such as smoking, bicycles, certain hairstyles and headgear by women, among others. Offenders are usually flogged by the white-clad masquerades.
I somehow feel like I am not able to do appropriate justice to this topic because I have never been to the festival, or any festival for that matter. But at least, now you know about the festival of you didn't before. And if you did
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