Origin of eyo festival. Eyo And The Eyo Festival: Cont'd From Lagos At 50 2022-11-05
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The Eyo Festival is a traditional Yoruba cultural event held in Lagos, Nigeria. It is a colorful and elaborate ceremony that involves the procession of Eyo masqueraders, who are dressed in all-white clothing and wearing tall, plumed headdresses. The Eyo Festival is believed to have originated in the early 19th century, and it is closely tied to the history and traditions of the Yoruba people.
According to Yoruba mythology, the Eyo Festival was established to honor the memory of a powerful king named Olofin Adimula, who ruled over the city of Lagos in the early 1800s. Olofin Adimula was a wise and just ruler, and he was greatly revered by his people. However, he eventually fell ill and passed away, leaving his people in mourning. In order to honor his memory, the Yoruba people decided to create a special ceremony to celebrate his life and legacy.
The Eyo Festival involves a procession of Eyo masqueraders, who are dressed in all-white clothing and tall, plumed headdresses. These masqueraders represent the spirits of Olofin Adimula and other ancestors, and they are believed to be endowed with special powers and spiritual knowledge. The Eyo Festival is a time for the Yoruba people to honor their ancestors and pay respect to their cultural traditions.
The Eyo Festival is also a time for celebration and joy, and it is accompanied by music, dance, and other forms of entertainment. The event is typically held on a Saturday, and it attracts a large number of visitors and tourists from all over the world.
In conclusion, the Eyo Festival is a traditional Yoruba cultural event that has its roots in the early 19th century. It is a celebration of the life and legacy of Olofin Adimula, a powerful Yoruba king, and it is a time for the Yoruba people to honor their ancestors and pay respect to their cultural traditions. The Eyo Festival is a colorful and elaborate ceremony that is accompanied by music, dance, and other forms of entertainment, and it attracts a large number of visitors and tourists from all over the world.
History of Eyo Festival
The The word "Eyo" also refers to the costumed dancers, referred to as the masquerades that begin during the festival. Finally, the song says, let all co-operate for the success and all initiates should gather at the Irele conclave of Awo-Opa. Butt-Thompson; author, sketches by the 2005. No part of the person carrying the Eyo is expected to be seen. The Adimu is identified by a black, broad-rimmed hat. In the case of the Yoruba of West Africa, mainly Nigeria, one is faced with a complexity not only of religious life, but also with diversity of this complexity and matters easily seem to be contradictory if one goes from one village to another, one diviner to another.
Today, the various Orisas are kept by descendants or relations of Ejilu, Malaki and Olugbani. As a result, it is divided into two sections: Lagos Island and Lagos Mainland. Therefore, it was the practice to create camp for them in villages of scheduled places to protect their sacredness. After sometime, the Orisas and later the chiefs were granted permission to constitute a group of Eyos in their conclave of palaces. The other Orisas while retaining their district name and characteristics became identified with the name Adamu Orisa. This fee is paid to the Iga — ruling house, whose colors and Akete the Eyo wears. Another version has it that the main deity Adamu Orisha originated from Ibefun just as Eyo masquerade came as a result of the need to protect the deity from the activities of hooligans who might seek to destroy or steal it.
Eyo Festival On Eyo Day, traffic is prohibited on the major thoroughfare that runs through the centre of the city from Carter Bridge so that a procession can travel from Idumota to the Iga Idunganran palace. Each Eyo comes out of an Iga palace of a ruling family in the morning and heads for the shrine Agodo. The It can also take place when a new Iga palace head or Oba is mounted. The origin of Eyo To which tribe or ethnic group does Eyo or Adamu Orisa play belong? They take directives from Awe-Adimu and maintain regular contact with Awe Adimu throughout the preparation period and Adamu Orisa Play day. Rules And Prohibited Items During The Eyo Festival Although the Eyo festival is a famous Yoruba festival that involves feasting and merrymaking, there are some basic rules and regulations that anyone who wants to participate in the festival has to obey in order to avoid problems with the Eyo masqueraders. The Adimu Cult has some interaction with the Osugbo Cult due to the involvement of late Apena Ajasa, who held the offices of Akinshiku, the Apena of the Osugbo Cult and that of Olorogun-Atabo, all at the same time. They belonged to the following: Olorogun Igbeaodi, Olorogun Atebo, Olorun Agan.
Retrieved 23 November 2011. Inclusion of Eyo The Adamu Orisa play continued in Lagos after its establishment with the three Orisas as the only set of masquerades. It is to be observed that the Ijebus, particularly within the Lagoon area have adopted the Awo Opa and today it appears as if Awo-Opa originated from the Ijebus. After the Eyo festival, it is the belief of the people of Lagos that this festival has taken away death, sickness, lack, and suffering and has brought wealth, good life, prosperity, and other good desires of Lagosians. Two other Lagos chiefs, the Modile and Onisemo, both Ogalado chiefs owned and maintained an Irele each. Although it may be a mixture of the Esu from Benin, the Awo-Opa, the Akala.
The masked performers represent ancestral spirits. The Akinshiku, the titular hard of the Adimu Cult is usually appointed from the Abegede Group. Back within the days, The Eyo festival is held to escort the soul of a departed Lagos King or Chief and to inaugurate a replacement king. The major music which is used during the Eyo festival is the KOROGUNand this music is played with the use of IYA-LU, two OMELE drums, IHONKOLO, and the gong. But if you have the Adamu, then it does not speak of himself but by demonstration or through the aide de-camp, is the Laba bag of mystical powers bearer.
The Eyo Festival In Nigeria: History, Importance And Dates
The state capital is Ikeja. Eyo festival has had a lot of impact in tourism right from the time the Portuguese first set foot on Eko and christened it Lagos, the Island has attracted foreigners on account of its many advantages as a seaport. The festival then culminates at the Tafawa Balewa Square TBS , where the Eyo will be on parade. On a Saturday, Eyo is normally held. Modern Eyo Festival The indigenous beliefs of the Yorubas have largely lost the majority of their original adherents to In the year 2000, the Eyo festival was held to commemorate the death of Justice G. Each person carrying a robe as Eyo must pay a fee for the privilege. On the eve of the festival, each man that wishes to partake as Eyo are required to present themselves at the Iga palace of the reigning Oba, for a feast and blessing from the Oba.
History had it that Oniko was first brought to Lagos, because it was reputed to have spiritual powers like, the Elegbara of Esu, as well as those of Ogun God of Iron and, therefore, capable of driving away all evil spirits and forces on their routes. In answering the question which I posed, my answer is that Eyo and Adamu Orisa play belonged to the Ekos. The festival takes place whenever occasion and tradition demand, though it's usually held as a part of the ultimate burial rites of a highly regarded chief within the king's court. It is claimed that Chief Kebo or Olorogun-Atebo, brought Adimu and Esu from Benin to Lagos. The origin of Malaki and Ejilu is a bit confused, some said Benin, some said Ibefun.
The royal Eyos include OLOREGUN, AROMIRE, OLOTO, BAJULAYE, AKINTOYE, ELETU-ODIBO ETI, and OSHODI among others. The masquerades are known to beat people who use any of the prohibited items at sight with their staffs. It is robed from head to toe in white flowing cloth. Among the Yorubas, the indigenous religions have largely lost the greater majority of their traditional followers to Christianity and Islam. The Lagos Eyo gives good meaning to the words, festival and spectacle.
It is, indeed, a modern edition to the play. The Lagos Island Council should resuscitate its special committee on the history of Lagos to examine the aspect relating to Eyo. The festival is used to mark memorable events and funeral ceremonies. Groups · The Adimu, Orisa baba Nla Mila · Okanlaba Ekun Alakete pupa , the Olopa Eyo · Eyo Orisa Oniko Abara yewu, egun onigemo · Eyo Orisa Ologede Olugbani · Eyo Orisa Angere Agere Mo Lokun Taboo Here is a list of prohibited items at the festival · Okada motorcycle taxis · Bicycles · Sandals · Suku — hairstyle that is popular among the Yorubas, one that has the hair converge at the middle, then shoot upward, before tipping downward. Those who hold this view say that the traditional iconic staff of the masquerade known as Opambata, was invented as part of the regalia for the purpose of warding off undesirable elements. The Eyo masquerades are known to beat people who use any of the prohibited items or break any of the rules and regulations with their staff when seen. The sons and daughters and wives, as well as friends and neighbours of the Iga follow the Eyo on a parade from one end of Lagos Island to the other.
In Nigeria, these events include Christmas, the Eyo festival, one Lagos fiesta, and other celebrations. Most times, it is done in honour of the demise of an Oba, a Chief, or a notable Lagosian who has contributed immensely to the development of Lagos. Johnson in his book The History of the Yorubas disposed that Eyo was an initiation of Egungun seen at Oyo. Evidence of contact with Oyo by Ejilu and Malaki would be seen when we examine the Igbo songs for the Orisas. There have been times in the past when for 21 years, the event did not hold, while there have also been years when Eyo was staged, three, four or five times in a single year.
