FIVE YEARS AFTER EYO FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR LAGOS @50

Adamu Orisha is back,the city of Lagos will come alive this Saturday 20th,May. The 2017 Eyo Festival is organized to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lagos state tagged Lagos@50 and also the passing away of  His Royal Majesty Late Oba Alayeluwa Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi, the 20th Oba Elegushi Of Ikate Land.

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. Back in the days,


The Eyo festival is held to escort the soul of a departed Lagos King or Chief and to usher in a new king. It is widely believed that the play is one of the manifestations of the customary African revelry that serves as the forerunner of the modern Carnival in Brazil
O
n 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").

The first procession in Lagos was on the 20th of February, 1854, to commemorate the life of the Oba Akintoye . 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.

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 a lot of revenue for government and small businesses 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.

The event will beginning from 9am with a procession from Iga through city hall down to Tafawa Balewa Square. Onikan. According to information at our disposal the state government has put in place adequate security. Prominent sons and daughters of the state are expected to grace festival also guests are expected from within  and out side the country.  The last time Eyo Festival was held was five years ago. In commemorating Prince Yesufu Abiodun Oniru. 

Eyo Masquerade.Oba Yekini /photo credit.google.com