Today marks the celebration of Halloween - a popular
western celebration where people dress up in creepy, scary, ghoulish,
holy and often creative costumes and let go of their inhibitions. Even
though Halloween is more popular in the west, there are quite a number
of Nigerian festivals where people dress up in scary costumes to celebrate
a particular festival. Different forms of masks, colors and original
pieces mark the occasion and excitement in the crowds. Africa's Number
One Hotel Booking Portal, Jovago.com has listed a number of Nigerian
festivals where we throw it down like Halloween.
The Eyo festival was held to escort the soul of a departed Lagos King
or Chief and to usher in a new king. The parade happens right in the
heart of Lagos with music and traditional displays along major market
roads and then to the Iga Idunganran palace. The white-clad Eyo masquerades
represent the spirits of the dead and their dance routines will do more
than excite you.
At Ekpe festivals masked dancers perform wearing hand-crafted masks
with scary horns and filed teeth. Best to arrive well before the event
because it is preceded by a free-for-all night of dancing and rehearsals
for drummers, dancers, chorus leaders and their choric groups. The day
of the festival is welcomed with many choral group performances from
elderly men and women to children of all ages. The Ekpe Festival is
a must-see for the whole family.
Over 2,000 masqueraders come out and show off their stunts at the
Iriji Festival. The festival involves people offering yams to the deities
and ancestors before giving to the villages to make spicy yam delicacies.
If that doesn’t thrill you, gymnastic performances from the masqueraders
(believed to be incarnated dead ancestors) are bound to steal your heart
away. The Iriji festival is an epitome of the beauty of Igbo culture
and should be seen by anyone visiting Eastern Nigeria.
The Sacred Osogbo Forest plays hosts to one of the most culturally
preserved festivals in Nigeria. The Osun Festival is held every year
for two weeks in August to cleanse the city and reunite its people with
their ancestors, the founders of Osogbo Kingdom. People from far and
wide come to witness the rich theatrical performances, costumes display,
and magical art put together in honour of the Oshun river goddess.
Who says paying homage to your King can’t be fun? Two days after
the Ileya celebrations, the people of Ijebuland dust off their costumes
and horses for the Ojude Oba festival, one of fun and colourful display
of Yoruba culture. It is a festival whose main purpose is for the people
of Ijebu to come together as one to honor their king and is regarded
as one of the biggest in West Africa.
Some people says Halloween is devilish. They even went ahead to question why Stella Damascus joined such festival on her Instagram page, guys what do you think about ithis?
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