THE NIGERIAN VOICE NEWSPAPER AUGUST 2013 | Page 3

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.