The Eyibi Festival is an annual cultural celebration held in Oke Eletu, Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Local Government of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria. [1] The festival is sometimes celebrated as Eyibi/Eluku Festival It showcases the community's rich Yoruba heritage, focusing on unity, peace, and spiritual renewal. Rooted in ancestral traditions, the festival serves as a time for communal bonding and cultural preservation. The Eluku and the Agemo festival are sub-festivals of the Eyibi festival which are usually celebrated among the Ijebus. [2]
The Eyibi Festival traces its origins to the ancestral practices of the Oke Eletu people. It is deeply rooted in Yoruba spirituality and serves as an occasion to offer prayers for peace, prosperity, and community well-being. The festival's rituals include honoring deities and ancestors, symbolizing gratitude and the desire for harmony within the community at the Osugbo Shrine.
The 2024 Eyibi Festival commenced on October 15 with the traditional Ituworo ceremony, which involves the gathering of significant leaves used in rituals to invoke blessings of peace, harmony, and economic prosperity for the community. The Eletu of Oke Eletu, Eletu Adeniyi Omotayo Ajayi, the traditional head of Oke Eletu emphasized the importance of unity and peace, marked by elaborate ceremonies, cultural displays, and traditional rites. [3] [4]
The Eyibi Festival fosters social cohesion and cultural pride among the Oke Eletu people. It attracts visitors from neighboring areas, boosting local tourism and contributing to the economic vibrancy of the region. The festival is also instrumental in passing down Yoruba traditions to younger generations, ensuring the preservation of cultural identity in the face of modern challenges
Egungun, Yoruba language: Egúngún, also known as Ará Ọ̀run in the broadest sense is any Yoruba masquerade or masked, costumed figure. More specifically, it is a Yoruba masquerade for ancestor reverence, or the ancestors themselves as a collective force. Eégún is the reduced form of the word egúngún and has the same meaning. There is a misconception that Eegun/Egun is the singular form, or that it represents the ancestors while Egúngún is the masquerade or the plural form. This misconception is common in the Americas by Orisa devotees that do not speak Yorùbá language as a vernacular. Egungun is a visible manifestation of the spirits of departed ancestors who periodically revisit the human community for remembrance, celebration, and blessings.
Babaaláwo or Babalawo in West Africa literally means "father of secrets," in the Yoruba language. It is a spiritual title that denotes a high priest of the Ifá oracle. Ifá is a divination system that represents the teachings of the Òrìṣà Ọrunmila, the Òrìṣà of Wisdom, who in turn serves as the oracular representative of Olodumare.
Ota is a town in Ogun State, Nigeria with an estimated 163,783 residents. Ota is the capital of the Ado–Odo/Ota Local Government Area. The traditional leader of Ota is the Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi AbdulKabir Obalanlege. Historically, Ota is the capital of the Awori Yoruba tribe.
Water festivals are vibrant celebrations that occur across the globe, often marking the start of a new year or season. These festivals are deeply rooted in cultural and religious traditions, and they showcase the importance of water as a life-giving resource. In Asia, countries like Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Xishuangbanna Prefecture and Dehong regions of China celebrate their respective new years with lively water festivals such as Songkran, Bunpimay, Thingyan, and Chaul Chnam Thmey. These festivities involve the joyous splashing of water, symbolizing purification and renewal. Beyond Southeast Asia and China, other countries have their own unique water-themed celebrations, from the Holi festival of colors in India to the Water Battle of Spain. These festivals serve as a reminder of the universal significance of water in our lives and our connection to it.
Osun-Osogbo is a sacred grove along the banks of the Osun river just outside the city of Osogbo, Osun State of Nigeria.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir of Chicago, Illinois is a traditional Hindu place of worship built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, which is headed by Mahant Swami Maharaj, is a denomination of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya within Hinduism. The mandir is located in the Chicago suburb of Bartlett and opened on August 7, 2004. It was built of hand-carved Italian marble and Turkish limestone. The mandir is the largest of its kind in Illinois and was constructed in accordance to the Shilpa shastras. The mandir complex spreads over 27 acres and includes the mandir and the haveli.
The Awori is a subgroup of the Yoruba people speaking a dialect of the Yoruba language. The Awori people are the original inhabitants of Lagos State and some parts of Ogun State, namely Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. The Awori people are landowners, farmers and fishermen.
The Yoruba people are a West African ethnic group who mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by the Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute more than 50 million people in Africa, are over a million outside the continent, and bear further representation among members of the African diaspora. The vast majority of the Yoruba population is today within the country of Nigeria, where they make up 20.7% of the country's population according to Ethnologue estimations, making them one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. Most Yoruba people speak the Yoruba language, which is the Niger-Congo language with the largest number of native or L1 speakers.
Ado-Odo is the metropolitan headquarters of the ancient kingdom of Ado, renowned for its Oduduwa/Obatala temple, the ancient fortress of the traditional practice of Ifá. Oodu'a is also regarded by traditionalists as the mother of all other deities. All of these made Ado an inviolate territory in western Yorubaland—the same "father-figure" status accorded to Ile-Ife. Unlike the other kingdoms, which had at one time or the other engaged in the internecine wars that ravaged Yorubaland in the nineteenth century, Ado stood out as an unconquered sanctuary city-state throughout the period.
The Olojo Festival is an ancient festival celebrated annually in Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. It is one of the popular festivals in the Yoruba land, and was once described by Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as a festival that celebrates the Black race all over the world. The Yoruba word 'Olojo' means 'The Day Of The First Dawn' that describes the grateful heart of man towards God's creation and the existence of Human. The Olojo Festival is a culture festival in the calendar of the Ile-Ife, Osun State which is located in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. It is the celebration of the remembrance of “Ogun”, god of Iron, who is believed to be the first son of Oduduwa, progenitor of the Yoruba people. The festival is held annually in October. It is one of the biggest festival on the culture calendar of lle-Ife.
The Sangken festival is celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam, India and in Kachin, Sagaing region of Myanmar as the traditional New Year's Day from 14 to 16 April by the Theravada Buddhist Communities. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars. The Sangken festival is celebrated by the Khamti, Singpho, Khamyang, Tangsa tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, and Tai Phake, Tai Aiton, and Tai Turung communities of Assam. Sangken generally falls in the month of 'Nuean Ha', the fifth month of the year of the Tai lunisolar calendar coinciding with the month of April. It is celebrated in the last days of the old year and the New Year begins on the day just after the end of the festival.
Pahetiya or Pahetia is the largest village in the Pahetia Panchayat, located in the Vaishali district of Bihar, just 9 kilometres from the district headquarters, Hajipur. It is a fascinating settlement rich in history, culture, and traditions. Known predominantly as a Bhumihar caste village, its social structure, historical roots, and diversity make it a unique and vibrant community.
The Omoluwabi or Omoluabi is a set of cultural principles that's native to the Yoruba people, embodying the essence of civilized behavior and virtue attribute towards every aspect of life. This timeless philosophy is deeply rooted in Yoruba tradition and serves as a guiding principle for the Yoruba People to strive for excellence in their personal and communal lives. Omoluwabi demonstrates and exhibits the inherent virtue and value of Iwapele which signifies a set of values such as integrity, respect, self-control, humility, humanity, empathy, responsibility, courage, perseverance, knowledge, education and hard work, which collectively define a person of good moral character. As a guiding principle, Omoluwabi has the power to inspire individuals to become active participants in their communities, cultivating a culture of inclusivity, empathy, and collective growth. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, the timeless wisdom of Omoluwabi serves as a beacon, reminding us of the importance of living a life of purpose, integrity, and character.
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Eyibi/Eluku Festival is an event celebrated by towns and settlements in Ikorodu area of Lagos state. It is an annual traditional festival that is of patriarchal nature, as it is only celebrated by male descendants who are paternal natives to the town. It is also to be noted that it is for males who are specifically natives of Ikorodu.
The Ibadan National Museum of Unity is an ethnographic museum in Aleshinloye Ibadan, Nigeria. The museum is dedicated to the culture of the different ethnic groups of Nigeria.
Niamtre is the indigenous religion practiced by the Jaintia people of Meghalaya, India. This religion is known for its deep connection to nature, ancestral worship, and local traditions.
Iledi Osugbo Abalaiye is a pre-colonial traditional site in Ajina Square in Ikorodu area of Lagos. It was built in 1810 by joint community effort and the building is used for the traditional rights and installation ceremony of the Obas and Chiefs. The Iledi Osugbo plays a significant role in the History and Origin of Ikorodu.
The Ayangburen Palace serves as the traditional seat of the monarch of Ikorodu, one of the five divisions of Lagos State, Nigeria. It is the official residence of the Oba Ayangburen of Ikorodu, the paramount ruler of the Ikorodu people. The palace is an important cultural, political, and spiritual center, reflecting the heritage and authority of the Oba.