Lagos metropolis is separated into the Island and the mainland. The indigenes of Lagos are largely domiciled in Lagos Island, often known as Isale Eko. Eyo pageant is widely known by the Isale Eko indigenes.
The Eyo refers back to the costumed dancers that come out through the pageant. Every eyo comes out of an Iga (palace) of a ruling household. They’re robed from head to toe in white flowing garments which consists of an agbada, the highest gown, the ‘aropale’, the underside wraparound, and in addition a hat, often known as ‘akete’. The hat bears the colours and protect of the Iga an Eyo comes from. No a part of the particular person carrying the Eyo is left uncovered.
A full week earlier than the pageant, the senior Eyo, the adimu goes public with a workers. This normally occurs on a Sunday and it means the occasion will happen on the next Saturday. The adimu is recognized by a black broad-rimmed hat and he doesn’t belong to any group. Solely a really previous and spiritually superior male can gown because the Adimu.
Another Eyo teams are the Labe, recognized by a purple hat, Oniko, recognized by a yellow hat, Ologede, recognized by a inexperienced hat, and Agere, by purple. There are as much as 50 different teams however these 5 are the pinnacle. After the Adimu goes public, every of those different 4 teams takes their turns from Monday to Thursday.
On the day of the pageant, the primary highways within the coronary heart of Lagos, from the tip of Carter Bridge to Tinubu Sq. are all the time closed down to permit for the procession. When the Eyo encounters an individual, he greets with a phrase, “E sunrunkunrun, we ma jagbon die!” -which translated to “Do not worry something, have a style of the palm tree”- and faucets the indivisible together with his workers.
There are some taboos and prohibitions throughout this pageant, each to the particular person carrying the Eyo and the folks round. The Eyo costume should not be worn in a single day or throughout any physique of water.
Some prohibited actions through the pageant embrace smoking, carrying footwear and headgears, shuku coiffure, taking photos, using bicycles, taking photos of and with the Eyo, and plenty of extra.
The newest Eyo continuing was held on Could 20, 2017, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Lagos state. In fashionable instances, a high-ranking particular person could request for the pageant to be organized so as to add colours to an event for a worth. It is usually offered as a vacationer occasion typically. It’s an outlet to showcase the tradition of the Isale Eko folks.