Lagos residents in their thousands on Saturday, defied the early morning rainfall and trooped out to welcome their own “Adamu Orisa’ popularly called Eyo festival.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the festival is part of activities to celebrate Lagos @50, a programme marking 50 years of the creation of Lagos State from the old Western Region on May 27, 1967 by the then military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon.
Brig.-Gen. Mobolaji Johnson was appointed as the first military governor of the State.
The heavy down pour, Saturday, according to residents, is a sign that the gods of the land were pleased with the celebrations as well as the present administration of the state led by Gov. Akinwumi Ambode.
NAN also observed that the masqueraders in their immaculate white regalia and accompanying palm fronds and caps to match, danced, in the rains, round Lagos Island in celebration of the festival they described as theatrical display and pageantry that highlights and showcases the rich indigenous history of the people of Lagos city.
One Mr. Taofeek Adebisi, who described himself as a writer, would advise Africans and the general public to seek knowledge of the festival rather than attributing it to fetish practice.
“I was born and bred as a Muslim on the Mainland area of Lagos and over the years, I have been made to believe that Eyo masquerade dance is diabolic,” Adebisi said, stressing however that he has come to realize that such belief was false.
“I have been going around town with the guys dancing since 10pm, Friday night, and I have not seen anyone pouring libations to any deity. Eyo is all about fun and nothing else, but, pure fun,’’ he said.
The festival, which started several decades ago, was invented as part of the regalia for the purpose of wading off undesirable elements.
The festival, synonymous with an image of masqueraders in flowing white apparel, has grown from a rural festival to an internationally acclaimed event, he noted.
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