I was in Eyo Festival!
We had started seeing statues in white sheet-like covers in all the corners a few weeks back and I asked Kingsley what these figures were. He explained to me that there were calling Lagosians to the upcoming festival called Eyo on Saturday. It was very interesting as the figures were fully covered with white clothes (including the face) and there were colorful hats on each of them.
With Brenda, we ran to the stadium to watch the event. Ike drove us to the nearest possible corner to the stadium as the police had closed some of the roads to traffic. Although we did not have any ticket, we were able to pass the gate (without any question) and we almost arrived to the VIP section (as VIP is born not made :))
Eyo Festival -also known as Adamu Orisha Play - was for the memory of one of the Obas called Chief Yesufu Abiodun Oniru. This person was loved and respected deeply by the Lagosians during his 50 year of reign. Hard to believe but he lived 120 years (1864-1984)!!!
The white-cover is the symbol for the spirits who come and clean the streets of Lagos and spirits of the Lagosians. :) There are different tribes who were dancing with the same clothes but different hats.
There were kiddo Eyos as well :)
In the booklet that we received in the stadium, it was saying that there are also some major rules about the festival. You have to take off your shoes on the streets (yes on Lagos streets!!) as the Eyos were supposedly cleaning the streets and spirits. So you have to show your trust. We were relaxed about this and did not take it so seriously as in the stadium we (VIPs :))) were OK with shoes on. However, at the minute we left the stadium to meet Ike to go back home, Brenda noticed that it was only us walking with the shoes. As it was mentioned in the booklet, everybody was walking with bare foot and there were Eyos making sure that the rules were applied on the streets. At first, it was fun as the Eyos approached us and blessed us with the stick. In the second group, we were blessed again but they were a bit harsher with their sticks. And in the last group, we went into real trouble!!! a group of Eyos surrounded us yelling "This is our culture, this is our value, you have to obey" and forced us to take off our shoes. At the same time, somebody was scratching Brenda's head band saying that it was also not acceptable to wear hat or head band in Eyo Festival. I was really scared and took of my shoes but I was more worried about what was next. I thought that we did not obey the rules in the first place so it would not help even if we obeyed then. However, taking off shoes worked and they let us go. Honestly, I was really panicked and still could not see Ike and the car. The worst part was that I was supposed to walk without the shoes. Luckily I had my socks on and tried to survive until we saw the car. Ike was just around to corner and I was about to cry with happiness. :))) The first sentence was: "Ike, you saved us you saved us!" :)))
Of course, I did not even try to wash my socks and threw them away.
When I told this story to my expat friends, the immediate reaction was: "You were crazy to walk on the streets during the festival day" (honestly they have a point :)). And the reaction from my local friends: "You should have made a wish as you were blessed by Eyos" :)))) punishing and blessing - the thin line between the two and huge culture difference to understand which one to pick! :)
We had started seeing statues in white sheet-like covers in all the corners a few weeks back and I asked Kingsley what these figures were. He explained to me that there were calling Lagosians to the upcoming festival called Eyo on Saturday. It was very interesting as the figures were fully covered with white clothes (including the face) and there were colorful hats on each of them.
Eyo Festival -also known as Adamu Orisha Play - was for the memory of one of the Obas called Chief Yesufu Abiodun Oniru. This person was loved and respected deeply by the Lagosians during his 50 year of reign. Hard to believe but he lived 120 years (1864-1984)!!!
The white-cover is the symbol for the spirits who come and clean the streets of Lagos and spirits of the Lagosians. :) There are different tribes who were dancing with the same clothes but different hats.
There were kiddo Eyos as well :)
In the booklet that we received in the stadium, it was saying that there are also some major rules about the festival. You have to take off your shoes on the streets (yes on Lagos streets!!) as the Eyos were supposedly cleaning the streets and spirits. So you have to show your trust. We were relaxed about this and did not take it so seriously as in the stadium we (VIPs :))) were OK with shoes on. However, at the minute we left the stadium to meet Ike to go back home, Brenda noticed that it was only us walking with the shoes. As it was mentioned in the booklet, everybody was walking with bare foot and there were Eyos making sure that the rules were applied on the streets. At first, it was fun as the Eyos approached us and blessed us with the stick. In the second group, we were blessed again but they were a bit harsher with their sticks. And in the last group, we went into real trouble!!! a group of Eyos surrounded us yelling "This is our culture, this is our value, you have to obey" and forced us to take off our shoes. At the same time, somebody was scratching Brenda's head band saying that it was also not acceptable to wear hat or head band in Eyo Festival. I was really scared and took of my shoes but I was more worried about what was next. I thought that we did not obey the rules in the first place so it would not help even if we obeyed then. However, taking off shoes worked and they let us go. Honestly, I was really panicked and still could not see Ike and the car. The worst part was that I was supposed to walk without the shoes. Luckily I had my socks on and tried to survive until we saw the car. Ike was just around to corner and I was about to cry with happiness. :))) The first sentence was: "Ike, you saved us you saved us!" :)))
Of course, I did not even try to wash my socks and threw them away.
When I told this story to my expat friends, the immediate reaction was: "You were crazy to walk on the streets during the festival day" (honestly they have a point :)). And the reaction from my local friends: "You should have made a wish as you were blessed by Eyos" :)))) punishing and blessing - the thin line between the two and huge culture difference to understand which one to pick! :)
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