Traditional festival: Stay indoors May 16, Lagos community warns females

The traditional “Oro” festival, which takes place every year in Ikorodu, Lagos State, has been rescheduled for May 16, 2024, both during the day and at night.

This was revealed in a letter that the Ayangburen Palace released and that Oba Kabiru Shotobi, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, signed. Opinion Nigeria was able to view a copy of the letter on Sunday.

The medical director of the Ikorodu General Hospital was the recipient of the letter, which was dated April 16, 2024.

The letter said, “This is to notify you of the above festival, which is slated for Thursday, May 16, 2024,” and was headed “Notification of Magbo (Oro) Festival 2024.”

“According to tradition, all females are advised to remain in their respective homes and avoid moving around the town during the Oro festival.

“Please note that your organisation is affected by falling within the Oro traditional jurisdictions. You are hereby advised to adhere to the traditions of the town.”

The Oro festival, among others, is a prominent festival in the Yoruba tradition.

It’s celebrated by male descendants and usually characterised by a daytime procession and high-pitched sounds in some areas or across the community as the case may be.

It’s believed that females mustn’t be present during the ritual rites of the festival.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho; and the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, did not take their calls when our correspondent called to get their reaction on Sunday.

They have also not responded to the text messages sent to them.

Efforts made to get more clarification on the matter from the Ikorodu Palace also did not yield positive results as the calls made were unanswered.