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Language(s) | Yoruba |
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Origin | |
Meaning | statue |
Region of origin | Western Region, Nigeria |
This article is part of a series in |
Culture of Nigeria |
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The Asa/Agere Festival in Ikorodu, Lagos State, is a vibrant cultural event celebrating the traditional stilt-walking performance unique to the region. Known locally as Agere, this festival is an integral part of Ikorodu's cultural heritage, promoting tourism and preserving traditional practices. The festival had faded from prominence but was revived in recent years to reestablish its significance.
The rebirth of the Asa Festival is spearheaded by the Ikorodu Division Rebirth Foundation(IREP) and supported by community leaders, including the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi. The festival features various cultural displays, including the launch of "Asa Arokolo," a book detailing its historical significance. Asa is seen as more than entertainment. It serves as a bridge connecting the past and present, fostering unity among Ikorodu's six divisions and attracting participants from within and outside Nigeria. [1] [2] [3] [4]
The Asa/Agere Festival has its origins in the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people, specifically within the traditions of Ikorodu. The festival is centered on the Asa masquerade, a unique cultural practice involving performers walking on tall stilts while showcasing dances and acrobatics. This tradition was historically used for communal entertainment, spiritual observances and as a symbol of the community's identity. The annual festival, which berthed in 2017 and was recognized by the Lagos State Government same year as one of its yearly cultural festivals, is being organized by the IREP – Ikorodu Division Rebirth Foundation led by the Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly and representative of the Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade who is the group's Convener and lnitiator of cultural and tourism development. [5]
Lagos, or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimate of 21 million, it is the largest city in Nigeria, and the most populous urban area on the African continent. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until the government's December 1991 decision to move their capital to Abuja in the centre of the country. Lagos is a major African financial centre and is the economic hub of Lagos State and Nigeria at large. The city has a significant influence on commerce, entertainment, technology, education, politics, tourism, art, and fashion in Africa. Lagos is also among the top ten of the world's fastest-growing cities and urban areas. In 2024, Time Out magazine ranked Lagos as the 19th Best City to visit in the World. A megacity, it has the fourth-highest GDP in Africa, and houses one of the largest and busiest seaports on the continent. Due to the large urban population and port traffic volumes, Lagos is classified as a Medium-Port Megacity.
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Lagos State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 Nigerian states, it is the second most populous state but the smallest in area. Bounded to the south by the Bight of Benin and to the west by the international border with Benin for 10 km, Lagos State borders Ogun State to the north for about 283 km, making it the only Nigerian state to border only one other state. Named for the city of Lagos—the most populous city in Africa—the state was formed from the Western Region and the former Federal Capital Territory on 27 May 1967.
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