TOURISM, CULTURE & TRADITION
THE NIGERIAN VOICE 3
August 2013
THE ADAMU ORISHA PLAY
A Yoruba Traditional Festival Performed On Lagos Island.
Olaniyi Thevoice Abodedele.
The Eyo Festival is an event As an indigenous member of
that combines tourism, cultural the Adele Royal family in
and traditional ceremonial Lagos Island situated at
activities. In this issue, we look Onolegbale Street, next to the
at the traditional side of the Monarch's Palace and being an
vibrant, colorful and unique active participant of the
festival synonymous to Lagos festival and a member of Eyo
what Samba Festival is to Agere for over 17 years, I will
Brazil. The Eyo Festival, share personal experience of
otherwise known as the Adamu Eyo festival. A full week before
Orisha Play, is a Yoruba the festival (always a Sunday),
traditional festival performed the 'senior' Eyo group, the
on Lagos Island, an area of Adimu (identified by a black
Lagos State, southwest, broad-rimmed hat called Aga),
goes on public parade with a
Nigeria.
ceremonial staff, when this
Celebrated since the 19th happens nothing on earth can
century, the Eyo Festival stop the festival from taking
stands out from the many place the following Saturday.
different Festivals held in Each of the four other
Nigeria, because it is NOT 'important' ones—Laba (Red
c e l e b r a t e d f o r o n l y Aga), Oniko (Yellow Aga),
entertainment purposes but for Ologede (Green Aga), Agere
traditional purposes. Every (Purple Aga)—in this very
Eyo festival is held in honor of order take turns from Monday
either a deceased Oba (king) or to Thursday without fail. This
a prominent "Lagosian" strictness with cadre and other
r e c o g n i z e d f o r m a k i n g old established rules before,
significant contribution to during and after the celebration
is what perhaps appeals the
Lagos, and its people.
most about the Eyo traditional
In addition, the Eyo is heritage.
generally not held at specific or
regular intervals. Instead, the
decision to hold the event is
usually influenced by an
occurrence of some sort e.g.
the death of a highly placed
Lagos personality or to cleanse
and appease the gods.
That leaves Friday, the eve,
free for tourists seeking the fun
and thrill of the fanfare to
come. On this night, the Iga
Iduganran, the permanent
residence of the Monarch as
well as the whole areas
surrounding it becomes an
open-sky party. Both sides of
every street on the Lagos
Island is filled with expectant
people, throb with tireless
traders advertising their
merchandises to the massive
crowd. People compete for
space with hordes of shuffling
feet.
Fifty meters from the palace,
workmen carry on with spirited
renovation on a bungalow in
brown colors the Ojubo Yewa
(Shrine), a single-room
memorial building of sorts,
within the all-important
Onimole Court; the place must
look good for the occasion. The
painting is of a pair of
drummers and five eyos, rarely
opened, this particular room is
key to the entire festival
because come the early hours
of Saturday, the superior five
(note the constancy of the
figure) of the eyo groups
(starting with the Adimu), plus
some ten more MUST come
into the premises to pay
homage. This particular rite is
considered with committed
adherence, none of the eyos
(numbering several thousand
individually) dare stroll the
streets on the set period until
after this ritual is completed.
Tourists and news reporters
from different parts of the
world are always present at the
festival venue. They take
pictures and record videos of
the smaller Eyo in procession
of dignitaries present, and also
of the participants. This is
allowed to continue until the
most powerful Eyo - called
Adimu Orisha which strictly
enforces tradition forbids
ANYONE to take
photos/record videos of it.
You are not allowed to wear
sandals or shoes in the domain
of the Eyo. This means that
everyone who have come to
see the Eyo, whether locals or
foreigners, have to walk
barefoot. Other rules guiding
participation in the Eyo
celebrations are prohibition of
smoking, face caps or head ties
and wearing of certain
hairstyles by women e.g
Shuku.
Although nothing compares to
the experience of being
physically present to watch the
LIVE proceedings of the
amazing Eyo Festival. The Eyo
masquerade symbolizes an
elegant mix of well preserved
Yoruba culture and tradition. If
you want to make your visit to
Nigeria truly memorable, I
would recommend, very
strongly, that you make plans
to stop over and experience the
amazing Eyo Traditional
Festival in Lagos.
An Eyo Masquerade Reciting Aro (incantation) As
He Journey’s Home Late Evening In Excitement
After The Days Parade At Tafawa Balewa Square
(TBS) Lagos Island, Lagos Nigeria.
Chief Gbadamosi (Left) Head of Eyo Orisa Agere &
other Leaders holding their Opabata (Stick) during the
procession of Eyo Orisa Agere at Tafawa Balewa Square
(TBS), Lagos Island Nigeria.
CULTURE OF BENIN
PEOPLE.
RITUALS AT COURTS
Private and public ceremonies
mark many of the important
moments in Benin's yearly
calendar. In the past, an
elaborate series of rites were
performed throughout the year
to secure otherworldly support
for the kingdom's well-being
and to celebrate decisive
events in its history. For the
sake of convenience, the
current monarch, Oba
Erediauwa, emphasizes the
end-of-year festival called
Igue, which is held during the
winter holidays to allow the
greatest number of people to
attend. Igue includes a
sequence of rituals that renew
the oba's supernatural powers
and cleanse the kingdom's
unruly spirits.
Benin's other important ritual
festivals include Ague, where
the first budded yams are
blessed in hopes of a
successful harvest; Ugie Ivie,
the Festival of Beads, in which
the oba's coral and red stone
regalia is bathed in cow's
blood to reinvest it with
spiritual force; Ugie Erha Oba,
which honors the oba's father
and all paternal ancestors;
Oduduwa, a masquerade that
likewise honors the oba's
paternal ancestors; and Ugie
Oro, celebrating Oba Esigie's
victory over the Idah Kingdom
in the 16th century.
Finely carved ivory double
gongs are examples of art
related to rituals at court. They
are called “double” gongs
because of second, smaller
resonating cups at their front.
Typically, the central image is
the oba in coral regalia
supported by the high priests
osa and osuan, officials who
tend the altars of the
kingdom's two patron gods.
These gongs are still carried
today by the oba during
Emobo, the last of the
empowering rites of the Igue
festival. The oba gently taps
the ivory instrument, creating
a rhythmic sound to calm and
dismiss unruly spirits from the
kingdom.
Culled from Wikipedia.com
THE FIRST STORY BUILDING IN NIGERIA
Popoola, Sunday O.
Visiting Lagos would always
be fun, because located in it is
the first ever story building in
Nigeria. The building was
constructed by Reverend C.A
Gollmer of the church
missionary society in 1845 at
Badagry.
The building showcases a lot of
memories for a lot of us who
were yet unborn as at then. This
historical masterpiece
foundation was laid by Rev.
Henry Townsend, the man who
published the first Newspaper
in Nigeria at Abeokuta “Iwe
Iroyin”.
According to Thisday
Newspaper “this historical
building houses some of the
items used by the early
missionaries” in Nigeria, “such
as the Bible and others,
overlooking the Marina
waterfront”.
In a detailed explanation of the
building “found in the laborers
room are the corrugated iron
sheets and nails used in the
roofing of the building. The
doors and hangers are still the
same and appear to have stood
the test of time more than what
is obtainable in the market
today”. “Just beside the
laborer's room is the room of
the first teacher in Nigeria, Mr.
Claudius Phillips. Presently
empty apart from the portrait of
the occupant; moving upstairs
through the rickety wooden
staircase is the room of the first
Bishop in Nigeria who wrote
the Yoruba language Bible in
Nigeria. Stored in this room is
the first English Bible
belonging to Rev. Townsend
Henry, when he was invited by
his friend Birch Freeman,
alongside the Yoruba version
translated by Bishop Ajayi
Crowther with his grandson
Herbert Macaulay.
From this room, one can see
the house Lord Fredrick
Luggard-the then governor of
the colony and protectorate of
Southern Nigeria – which is
currently under construction”
In the narration of Thisday
Newspaper, it is gathered that
“There is also the Bible room
where the missionaries stored
their Bible. The safe room also
had the first safe used by the
missionary in 1856 where they
kept their money and other
valuables item”. Found in this
safe are currencies that were
used by the missionaries and
the slave masters. These
currencies are visibly
displayed in cowries, penny,
shillings and kobo. “Also
situated in the premises of the
building is a well, which was
dug in 1842”.
A visit to this tourist sight
cannot be compared, to this
description. Therefore,
whenever you arrive Lagos
Nigeria, why not check out this
building for yourself and have
a nice time experiencing this
Historical masterpiece.