Festivals and Culture - Eyo Festival in Lagos, Nigeria
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The Eyo festival is a cultural festival which attracts all Lagos Island natives, people across Nigeria and visitors from all over the world, and is held to venerate the passing away of illustrious sons and daughters of the city of Lagos who have been esteemed custodians of its heritage, customs, history and culture.
They may have passed on, but they are still recognised as honourable Lagos indigenes that had contributed in no small measure, though in many diverse ways; to the advancement of the city of Lagos and its people.
Eyo festival takes place whenever tradition demands, but is usually held as the final burial rites for a highly regarded Lagos Chief, or an Oba of Lagos. It is full of pomp, pageantry, and gaiety, with a splendid and theatrical display of colourful regalia, music, acrobatic displays and dancing.
The gay festival has evolved over three hundred years and is held for a number of reasons to:
- Commemorate the passage of an Oba of Lagos (King of Lagos).
- Celebrate the life and times of a worthy 'child of the soil', like the Lagos White Cap Chiefs.
- Celebrate the ascension to the throne of a new Oba of Lagos.
- To commemorate the passing away of an Oba of Lagos.
According to historical sources, the Eyo festival was, and still is a special cultural display that not only honours the dead, but symbolizes an act of cleansing of a great city of evil, a 'sweeping away' of impending doom or misfortune that may befall it.
The ceremony also serves as a sanctification of its future prosperity, general well being, and peace amongst its people.
Also known as The Adamu Orisa Play, the festival is claimed to be the primary arts and culture event in Lagos, and involves a weeklong series of activities that ends, always on a Saturday, with an awesome procession of the Eyo masquerades, men all clad in brilliant white robes called Agbadas', and laced veils made from aso oke (a native cotton cloth) are placed over their heads to conceal their identity.
This garb is topped with exceptionally colourful wide brimmed headgear/hats. They all hold a staff in their hands called the Opambata, which symbolises authority and serves both as a 'tapping staff' to bless observers, and a 'spanking tool' to chastise them.
The Eyo festival continues to serve as a showcase to Africa in general, and the world at large. It tells the world that the city of Lagos, though with diverse cultures and ways of life, has people that are friendly, accommodating, receptive and culturally aware.
Today's Eyo festival wears a more corporate look that is good for the tourism industry. It has created a more holistic approach and better reflection for the festivities of the Eyo play.
Through far-reaching branding and promoting, Lagos State Government, thanks to the broad-minded progressiveness and wise foresight of the current Governor, Babtunde Raji Fashola, now goes all-the-way in giving full support to the Eyo festival, by helping in no small measure to enable its planning and organisation logistics.
And unlike in the past where the carnival like festival was only sighted at Idumota and on the streets of Lagos by excited spectators along their route, or at the Obas Palace, for the first time in 2009, a central venue, the Tafawa Balewa Square known in the past as the Lagos Race Course, was designated for the final convergence of the Eyo masquerades of all the different groups.
And with a beautiful array of colours, fun, merriment and an electrified excitement in the air, many more people asides the locals, including other Nigerians from other states, tourists and international visitors can witness the Eyo festival and see a great parade of a timeless tradition and culture of the Lagos Island inhabitants.
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