Eyo festival

Eyo Bajulaiye Ineso masquerade in a residential area of Lagos near the Tafawa Balewa Square.

The Eyo Festival, otherwise known as the Adamu Orisha Play,^[1] is a Yoruba festival unique to Lagos, Nigeria and has a strong historical footing in Iperu-Remo, a town in Ikenne Local Government, Ogun State.^[2] In modern times, it is presented by the people of Lagos as a tourist event.^[3] Due to the history of its development, it is traditionally performed on Lagos Island.^[4] A notable festival date was in 2000 commemorating Justice G.B.A. Coker, a Lagos high chief, the Olori Adimu and the Olori Eyo of the Adimu Eyo cultural masquerade.

Eyo

The word "Eyo" also refers to the costumed dancers, known as the masquerades that come out during the festival. The origins of this observance are found in the inner workings of the secret societies of Lagos.^[5] Back in the day, the Eyo festival was held to escort the soul of a departed Lagos King or Chief and to usher in a new king. On Eyo Day, the main highway in the heart of the city (from the end of Carter Bridge to Tinubu Square) is closed to traffic, allowing for procession from Idumota to the Iga Idunganran palace. The white-clad Eyo masquerades represent the spirits of the dead, and are referred to in Yoruba as "agogoro Eyo" (literally: "tall Eyo").^[6]

The first procession in Lagos was on 20 February 1854, to commemorate the life of the Oba Akintoye.^[7] Eyos (the masquerades) celebrate a Oba´s (king) life. Eyo Festival is a homage to his death. The ritual is also organized to commemorate the election of a new leader. Traditionally, it only occurs at these times. Nowadays, and because it is such a traditional festival, it can be celebrated for the death of a notable person, or to celebrate a special occasion such as visits by heads of state.

Here, the participants all pay homage to the reigning Oba of Lagos. The festival takes place whenever occasion and tradition demand, though it is usually held as part of the final burial rites of a highly regarded chief in the king's court.^[8]

Among the Yorubas, the indigenous religions have largely lost the greater majority of their traditional followers to Christianity and Islam. Be that as it may, the old festivals are still almost universally observed as tourist attractions which generate large amounts of revenue for government and small business^[2]^[1] around the Lagos Island venue of the Eyo festival. It is during these occasions that their traditional monarchs and nobles exercise the most of their residual power.

Order of events

In his book Nigerian Festivals, travel writer and culture reporter Pelu Awofeso notes: A full week before the festival^[9] (always a Sunday), the ‘senior’ eyo group, the Adimu (identified by a black, broad-rimmed hat), goes public with a staff. When this happens, it means the event will take place on the following Saturday. Each of the four other Eyo groups — Laba (Red), Oniko (yellow), Ologede (Green) and Agere (Purple) — take their turns in that order from Monday to Thursday.

History

Historically, Iperu is the source, cradle and originator of Eyo in Nigeria and the world. There are 5 different branches/types of Iga Eyo in Iperu Akesan

Names of the families and Iga of Eyo each represents are:

Iga Pakerike which is symbolized by red cap of éyo
Iga Agbonmagbe, also symbolized by blue cap of éyo.
Iga éyo Odoru
Iga éyo Mogusen/Amororoo
Iga éyo Fibigbuwa

The major source of éyo in Iperu is the Iga éyo Pakeriké and other 4 are the Iperu Royal houses.

History made us to understand that Eyó was brought to Lagos to entertain an in-law which has now become something more celebrated in Lagos today.

Akesan aagbé wa! Remo asuwon ooo!

Festival dates

2000

2000, Commemorating Justice G.B.A. Coker, a Lagos high chief, the Olori Adimu and the Olori Eyo of the Adimu Eyo cultural masquerade.^[10]

2011

November 26,^[11] commemorating Prince Yesufu Abiodun Oniru, a Lagos nobleman.

2017

May 20,^[12] commemorating the 50th anniversary of Lagos state tagged Lagos@50 and also to commemorate the life and times of the late Oba of Ikate Kingdom Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi Kunsela 11.^[13]

Prohibited items

Here is a list of prohibited items at the festival:^[14]^[15]

Okada motorcycle taxis
bicycles
sandals
Suku - a cornrowed hairstyle popular among the Yorubas, one that has the hair converge at the middle, then shoot upward, before tipping downward.
smoking
female with head tie or headgear or any covering of the head
male with cap of any kind
wearing of the Eyo costume overnight or to cross a river or lagoon.

The masquerades are known to beat people who use any of the prohibited items at sight with their staffs.

Gallery

Bridge pillars in Lagos showing Eyo figures
Eyo figure advertising upcoming festival
Members of the Eyo Iga Etti procession at the Eyo festival at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, including a man carrying a burning pot on his head.
The banner of the Eyo Iga Taiwo Olowo entering the TBS.
The banner of the Eyo Iga Opeluwa entering the TBS.
The banner of the Eyo Awise entering the TBS.
Masquerades in the Eyo Iga Etti procession.
Eyo Olokun masquerades at the TBS. Eyo Olokun are connected with Olokun, the Yoruba deity of the sea.
Children in costume at the festival.
Masquerades of the Eyo Iga Sasi entering the TBS in Lagos in procession.
A man carrying a burning pot on his head as part of a procession in a residential area of Lagos. Probably a member of Eyo Iga Etti.
Masquerades of the Eyo Iga Faji parading in the TBS.
A performer on stilts as part of the Eyo Agere Molokun procession parading in the TBS.
A packed lunch brought by the royal family for the 2011 Eyo festival, commemorating Prince Yesufu Abiodun Oniru.
A bus with Eyo masquerades painted on the back, with the slogan "Eko o ni baje" (literally Lagos will not spoil, a colloquialism for Lagos will prevail).