Agogoro Eyo Festival in Lagos, Nigeria
DEITIES OF THE AGOGORO EYO FESTIVAL
By: Alaba kehinde
Email: kennyfragile007@gmail.com
Introduction
The word Eyo also refers to the costumed dancers, known as the masquerade, that come out during the festival. The origins of this observance are found in the inner workings of the secret societies in lagos. It is widely believed that the play is one of the manifestations of the customary African revelry that serves as the forunner of the modern carnival in Brazil. On Eyo day, the mainhighway in the heart of the city (from the end of carter bridge to tinubu square) is closed to traffic, allowing for procession from Idumota to the Iga Idunganran palace. The white-clad Eyo masquerade represent the spirits of the dead, and are referred to in Yoruba as Agogoro Eyo (literally “tall Eyo”). The first procession in Lagos was on the 20th of February, 1854 to commemorate the life of the Oba Akintoye.While Orisa Ogunran is a male Adamu on the other hand is a female. In the manner of a spirit being visiting the earth on a purpose, the masquerade speaks in a ventriloquial voice, suggestive of its otherworldliness; and when greeted, it replies: “Mo yo fun e, moyo fun ra mi”( I rejoice for you, I rejoice for myself).This response connotes the masquerades as rejoicing with the person greeting it for the witnessing of the day, and its own joy at taking the hallowed responsibility of cleansing. If we could take an up-to-date record of staged Adamu Orisha plays in Lagos, it should be close to one hundred celebration since its inception. This papers seeks to discuss the celebration of the Eyo Adimu festival, the different types of theOrisas and there functions to the celebration and finally the significance of the Eyo regalia to Agogoro Eyo festival in Lagos.
THE ORISHA’S OF THE PLAY…..a brief history.
ADAMU ORISHA
Although its history is shrouded in mystery, from very humble beginnings in lagos, the Adamu Orisha play which is performed by the senior member of the Awe Adimu and under
By: Alaba kehinde
Email: kennyfragile007@gmail.com
Introduction
The word Eyo also refers to the costumed dancers, known as the masquerade, that come out during the festival. The origins of this observance are found in the inner workings of the secret societies in lagos. It is widely believed that the play is one of the manifestations of the customary African revelry that serves as the forunner of the modern carnival in Brazil. On Eyo day, the mainhighway in the heart of the city (from the end of carter bridge to tinubu square) is closed to traffic, allowing for procession from Idumota to the Iga Idunganran palace. The white-clad Eyo masquerade represent the spirits of the dead, and are referred to in Yoruba as Agogoro Eyo (literally “tall Eyo”). The first procession in Lagos was on the 20th of February, 1854 to commemorate the life of the Oba Akintoye.While Orisa Ogunran is a male Adamu on the other hand is a female. In the manner of a spirit being visiting the earth on a purpose, the masquerade speaks in a ventriloquial voice, suggestive of its otherworldliness; and when greeted, it replies: “Mo yo fun e, moyo fun ra mi”( I rejoice for you, I rejoice for myself).This response connotes the masquerades as rejoicing with the person greeting it for the witnessing of the day, and its own joy at taking the hallowed responsibility of cleansing. If we could take an up-to-date record of staged Adamu Orisha plays in Lagos, it should be close to one hundred celebration since its inception. This papers seeks to discuss the celebration of the Eyo Adimu festival, the different types of theOrisas and there functions to the celebration and finally the significance of the Eyo regalia to Agogoro Eyo festival in Lagos.
THE ORISHA’S OF THE PLAY…..a brief history.
ADAMU ORISHA
Although its history is shrouded in mystery, from very humble beginnings in lagos, the Adamu Orisha play which is performed by the senior member of the Awe Adimu and under