The Eyo festival is a major tourist attraction in Lagos state. The Eyo Festival is a Yoruba festival in Lagos, Nigeria. The word “Eyo” refers to the masquerades that come out during the festival. The Eyo festival may be held in honour of a chief from a ruling family, an Oba who had died and when a new head of an Iga or a new Oba is installed on the throne. In modern day, a governor can ask for the Eyo festival be organized also.
HOUSE FOR SALE IN LEKKI PHASE 1
The Eyo festival is only held in Lagos. It is Eko’s creation, it has no parallel anywhere in Yoruba land. Lagos is divided into two parts namely the Lagos Island and the Lagos Mainland. The indigenes of Lagos mostly reside in Lagos Island , also known as Isale Eko, and celebrate the Eyo festival. The Eyo festival is used to showcase the culture of the Isale Eko people. Each Eyo(masquerade) comes out of an Iga (palace) of a ruling family in the morning and heads for the Agodo(shrine). The Eyo is robed from top to bottom in white flowing cloth. The white flowing costume consists of an ‘agbada’ and the ‘aropale’. The Eyo also wears an ‘Akete’ (a hat) that bears the colours and shield of the Iga from which he comes from. An Eyo may tie ribbons, in the colours of the house that he represents, to the Opambata (palm branch) that he carries. An Iga’s Eyo may have up to 50-100 members. Each person carrying a robe as Eyo must pay a fee for the privilege to the Iga, ruling house, whose colours and Akete the Eyo wears. Although, the crowd of supporters following the Eyo does not wear white robes
1 BEDROOM FLAT FOR RENT IN ABUJA
The only Eyo that is not part of a group is the Eyo-Adimu Orisa. Only a very old and spiritually advanced male can robe as the Adimu. It is the last Eyo to leave the “agodo.” In terms of hierarchy, Ẹyọ Adimu is above all other Eyo. There is only one Adimu and he wears a black hat. On a chosen Sunday, the Òríșà Adimu will emerge with his staff in public which means that it is official that the festival will take place coming Saturday. The rest of the remaining Eyo namely: Làbà (red hat), Ónikó (yellow), Ọlọgẹdẹ (green), and Ageré (purple) will also go public from Monday-Thursday. The Eyo, when it encounters people, greets them with the phrase, “E sunrunkunrun, we ma jagbon die!” meaning, “don’t fear anything, have a taste of the palm tree,” and taps the individual on the shoulders with the “opambata.” When he is given money, he will pray for the person and recite the praise song of his Iga.
LAND FOR SALE IN PORT HARCOURT
The phrase, “e sunrunkunrun, we ma jagbon die!” is spoken in the Ijebu dialect of Yoruba. This is so because it was a wedding present when the Oba of Lagos married an Ijebu princess. The first Eyo festival in Lagos was on the 20th of February, 1854, to commemorate the life of Oba Akintoye. The Eyo festival is usually held on a Saturday.
Due to its history, the festival is traditionally on the Lagos Island. 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 a procession from Idumota to the Iga Idunganran palace. The festival then culminates at the Tafawa Balewa Square(TBS), where the Eyo will be on parade.
Contents
The Origin of Eyo Festival
Historians claim the cultural festival was inherited from Ibefun, a town in Ogun state, where the then Oba of Lagos, Oba Akinsemoyin, set out to assuage the Eyo deity so that his childless younger sibling, Erelu Kuti, can bear a child. The Erelu did eventually bear two children whose line to date determines an Oba’s ascension to the throne in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria.
More recently, the festival occurs in memory of eminent Lagosians who died or to commemorate visits by State and foreign dignitaries with a parade that terminates at the Tafawa Balewa Square on the Lagos Island.
2 bedroom flat for rent in Port Harcourt
The Adimu Orisa
When an Oba of Lagos dies, it is compulsory that the Eyo festival takes place according to tradition. The family of the deceased must put a request to the Akinsiku of Lagos who is the head of the Eyos. The Akinsiku of Lagos will then requests for the Ikaro, offerings, and gifts, from the family of the deceased and when the family meets this request then the Akinsiku collects the offerings and distributes them among the deity families of Lagos state.
In accordance with tradition, a divination rite must follow the distribution of the Ikaro(offerings). This rite is carried out at the sacred sanctuary of the Eyo Orisa called the Awe Adimu. At the sanctuary of the Eyo Orisa, an appropriate date is chosen for the festival to hold. When a date is selected, each of the five Eyo groups will meet to work out their plans for the festival. This meeting process must be concluded a full week before the Eyo festival day.
The Opa
The appearance of the Opa is an important rite which commences a week before Eyo festival day. Each of the top five senior Eyo comes out in their hierarchical order to visit eminent individuals to inform them about the coming festival. Finally, the State Government is informed through an official visit to the Governor of Lagos State.
The Eve of Eyo Festival Day
The night before festivities begin, tradition demands that the men assemble at the reigning Oba’s Palace for a great party. During the party, the Oba officially gives his blessings. There is another important rite that’s performed by the Eyo Laba group called the Agodo Erection Rite.
Eyo Laba conclave is the second in command of the ‘Senior Five’ Eyo conclaves. Once the erection ritual is completed, the most senior of the conclaves, the Eyo Adimu carry out an inspection of the structure after the party has ended. Other groups of the Eyo also carry out their own inspections in hierarchical order.
There is also the observance of the ‘Gbale’ rites which symbolizes the ‘sweeping away’ of evil and the ushering in of prosperity, peace, and harmony into the state.
The Eyo Festival Day
At 5 am on the day of the Eyo festival, all the Eyos gather together to the sounds of the Gbedu and Koranga drums, two drums that are only beaten during the Eyo festival. All the Eyos in their full regalia begin to move towards the Para, a tent built with raffia mats, erected somewhere in the neighborhood of Enu Owa in Lagos Island. Enu Owa is an important place on the island where the ceremonial crowning of any Oba takes place.
All the Eyos proceed to the Oba’s Palace at Iga Idunganran to pay homeage before moving out into the streets of Lagos Island. The Eyos finally meet at Tafawa Balewa Square where thousands of people will be waiting to receive them and join in the festivities. While festivities go on in a carnival-like atmosphere, the Eyo masquerades engage in dancing, singing and displaying weird acrobatic moves.
After the festival, the Eyo masquerades move back to the Para, where the opening of the traditional festival was declared at dawn, to tear it down. The tearing down of the Para is instructed by the Orisa Adimu.
LAND FOR SALE IN LEKKI PHASE 1
Things You Must Not Do At The Eyo Festival
During the festival, the following rules must be adhered to has it is a taboo to break them.
No Smoking
Smoking is not allowed at the festival. So, ensure you don’t bring your cigar to the festival ground.
No wearing of shoes
You have to walk around with your bare feet throughout the festival.
No Suku hairstyle by women
Suku is not allowed at the festival ground. If you are wearing this type of hairstyle, it is either you loose it or just stay away from the festival.
No Riding of bicycle/motorcycle
You should not ride a motorcycle/bicycle on the festival ground because you may probably lose it. Instead, you can drive or take public transport.
No headgear for men/women
In other words, your hair should not be covered. The only exception is for Muslim men has they are allowed to wear their white prayer cap.
No picture taking of Eyo Orisha
You are not permitted to take the pictures of the Eyo Orisha.
Other unique festivals in Nigeria includes Argungu Fishing Festival, Ojude Oba Festival, Calabar festival and many more. Nigeria plays home to many festive occasions. Finding a house to live during this festivals is quite easy, just log on to PropertyPro.ng.
