The Eyo festival, also known as the Adimu Orisa play is a festival common among Yoruba people, specifically the indigines of Lagos.
Eyo festival is a traditional masquerade display that serves as a tourist attraction for people all over the world. The Eyo festival is a tourist event and it is performed on Lagos Island (Isale Eko).
Here are some facts about the popular Eyo festival:
- In the past, the Eyo festival is held when an Oba dies to escort the soul of the departed king but now it is held when a new Oba is being installed or during special occasions.
- According to history, the Eyo festival was brought to Lagos to entertain an in-law but it has become a major festival in Lagos today.
- The festival has served as a source of revenue for the government and small businesses in Lagos Island which is the venue for the Eyo festival.
- The first Eyo festival in Lagos was held on the 20th of February, 1854 to commemorate the life of the Oba Akintoye.
5.Items like smoking, riding motorcycles or bicycles, wearing sandals or head ties for females are prohibit during the festival.
6.The men taking part in the Eyo festival are required to assemble at the Oba palace the ight before the festival. They gather there to make merry and also receive the Oba’s blessing.
7.There are only two drums beaten during the Eyo festival, the Gbedu and Koranga drums. Once it’s 5am on the festival day, the Eyo masquerade gather the sounds of the drums.
8.The agogoro Eyo which means the tall Eyo are the white- clad Eyo Masquerades and they represent the spirits of the dead.
9.The highway in the heart of the city is always closed to traffic on the Eyo day. This is done in order to allow the procession from Idumota to the Iga Idunganran palace.
