Eyo Festival: Lessons to be learnt
Within the past years many events had happened, locally and internationally. However, this particular one got my attention. Adamu Orisha play, now popularly known as Eyo Festival. It happened within the hub of Lagos Island, on Saturday, April 25, 2009. As usual, the event was filled with pageantry, a reminiscent of its past occurrences. According to Yoruba Legendry, Eyo festival was brought into Lagos in the year 1750 by Ejilu and Malaki, the two male cousins to Olori Olugbani, the wife of Oba Ado and mother of Erelu Kuti of Lagos. It was first showcased on Lagos Island on September 11, 1852, to commemorate Late (Chief) Dosunmun Asogbon. The sacredness of this festival seen to have, somehow, received little modernization here and there. This seems to be the true picture of what happened during this particular celebration. In its usual manner, the celebration was held to honour an illustrious son of the land, Late Theophilus Shobowale Benson. According to Yoruba traditional belief, Eyo festival is staged for two main purposes: to commemorate the death of an Oba before the heir apparent can be swornin; and, to honour an eminent Lagosian who had contributed to the progress and development of the State – Lagos – during his/her life time.

The event started at about 6:00am and lasted till about 6:30pm. It was held at the prestigious Tafawa Balawa Square, TBS. The five main Eyo, traditionally known as ‘Arch Deities’, were in their customary regalia with their groups or what the Yorubas call “Iga”. One peculiar thing about these ‘Arch Deities’ is that they dress in white regalia, but with different colour hats which help to identify them in their hierarchy. The overall leader known as Adimu wears the black hat, Ikolaba Ekun wears the red hat, Agere wears the yellow hat, Oniko wears the green hat, and Ologede wears the purple hat. This is