The Eyo Festival, also known as Adamu Orisha Play, is a traditional Yoruba ceremony indigenous to Lagos State. It is held to honor the life and passing of an Oba (king) or a highly respected chief, and sometimes to mark significant state events. Unlike other festivals built around music and celebration, Eyo is a rite...
Category: Cultures
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Eyo Festival Returns To Lagos Island With Vibrant Processions After Seven Years.
The Adamu Orisa Play, or Eyo Festival, revives after seven years at Tafawa Balewa Square, where thousands watch masquerades honor Yoruba heritage and departed icons like Abibatu Mogaji and Mobolaji Johnson. Eyos lead processions dating back to 1854 traditions, banning shoes, umbrellas, and selfies while crowds chant ‘Eyo!’ in unity. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu hosted the...
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Where Black Teeth Meant Beauty – Japanese Ohaguro
In a world where sparkling white teeth are celebrated, Japan once embraced the complete opposite. For nearly a thousand years, blackened teeth known as Ohaguro were considered the height of beauty, elegance, and social status. Ohaguro dates back as far as the Heian period (794–1185), but it became widespread during the Muromachi and Edo eras....
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US Repatriate Famed Benin Bronzes
The Museum of Fine Arts in the US city of Boston has returned two of the famed Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, authorities in the west African nation said late on Monday. The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy on Monday received two Benin bronzes, a bronze relief plaque and a commemorative head, from the...
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The Story Behind The Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival (Yuan Xiao Jie, or 元宵节) is a vibrant holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month, marking the arrival of the first full moon of the year and the official end of the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) celebrations. The festival dates back over 2,000 years. Some say it...
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Orompoto: The Woman Who Became Alaafin Of Oyo
Alaafin Ajiun Orompotoniyun,usually called Orompoto, was the first and only female Alaafin of Oyo. She ruled the Oyo empire in the 16th century, speculatively from 1554 to 1562. In the 1500s, the Oyo Empire was one of West Africa’s greatest powerful, strong, spiritual and deeply traditional regions. But even in that patriarchal system, one woman...
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A Kingdom That Fought For Honor But Traded Humanity — The Legacy Of Dahomey
The Dahomey Kingdom was already a legend before Hollywood turned them into the fierce heroines of The Woman King. What is now known as Republic of Benin stood as one of the most powerful and organized empires in precolonial Africa. It was a kingdom of wealth, warriors, and women famed for its discipline, architecture, and...
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The Origin Of Halloween – Long before trick-or-treat buckets started, there was Samhain (pronounced sow-in), an ancient Celtic festival celebrated over 2,000 years ago across Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Long before trick-or-treat buckets started, there was Samhain (pronounced sow-in), an ancient Celtic festival celebrated over 2,000 years ago across Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. For the Celts, October 31 marked the end of summer and harvest, and was believed that the veil between the living and dead was thin and spirits could cross over Villagers...
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The Mursi Women Who Wear Strength On Their Lips
The Mursi people (who refer to themselves as Mun) stand as one of Africa’s most culturally distinct and fascinating ethnic groups. With a population estimated at under 10,000, the Mursi is one of the most isolated and culturally diverse regions on Earth. Cut off for centuries from urban influence, they have preserved their ancient customs...
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The Stilts Walking Tribe – Banna Tribe
To the untrained eye, it might look like an art performance, but to the Banna, it’s a sacred tradition that ties their feet quite literally to their ancestors. The Banna (or Benna) people reside in the Lower Omo Valley of southwestern Ethiopia. Their tradition of walking on tall wooden stilts, which can reach several meters...
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