Speeches

World Press Conference On 2009 Eyo Festival

Apr 23, 2009 - Dear Lagosians,

The Eyo festival day is a joyous day of gaiety and splendour during which Lagos Island is filled with the exuberance of young Eyo masquerades and prayers and sobriety of the older practitioners. The coming festival will be held on the 25th of April commencing from 6am to about 6.30 pm. This festival is in honour of our esteemed Otunba, Omoba Olugbekan, Ikorodu, Olu of Orlu and Baba Oba of Lagos, the late Otunba Theophilus Owolabi Shobowale Benson.

Otunba Benson who was born on the 23rd of July 1917, became the First Deputy Mayor of Lagos in 1950 and was later elected as the representative of Lagos in the Western House of Assembly. In 1959, he was elected to represent Lagos in the Federal Parliament in the Independent Coalition Government and was the first Nigerian to serve as the Federal Minister of Information, Culture and Broadcasting. He made useful contributions to the efforts that led to the creation of Lagos State in 1967. Otunba Benson, who was fondly called Papa by family, associates and friends died on the 13th of February 2008.

As you may have noticed, the coming festival is intended to be a little different from past performances.

• The grand parade will be held at the Tafawa Balewa Square from about 11 am to 5.pm.

• The TBS will be transformed to a big picnic arena.

• There will be free BRT/LAGBUS transportation to and from the TBS from Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe and the larger metropolis.

• There will be dedicated car parks along the Marina from which buses will convey spectators to the TBS.

• Security in the car parks, in and around the TBS and on the Island will be heightened from Friday through Saturday night.

• Eyo members who do not abide by the rules of performance will be guests of the Police Commissioner.

• There will be traditional drummers (Korogun/Karajagba) and KWAM1 to provide music for Eyos masquerades and spectators.

• There will be many forms of food such as suya, asun, barbeques, snacks and formal dishes available for purchase.

• There will also be souvenir shops where collector’s items will be up for sale

In other words, it will be a day to treasure for all members of the family.

The decision to stage the parade at the Tafawa Balewa Square with the blessing of the Oba of Lagos is intended to provide for larger viewership within a relaxed, safe and entertaining atmosphere without distracting from the elegance of the play. The play will not end at the TBS but upon completion of traditional duties in Isale Eko.

I note that this modest change is of some concern to the elders of the craft who have also noticed a decline in the standards of performance, introduction of unwholesomeness and reduced viewership. It was obvious that there was a need to re-engage the society to the festival and return its previous standards without change to festival values and precepts.

I thank the Oba of Lagos, Titled chiefs and the Elders of the Awe Adimu for their support and guidance. I similarly thank our sponsors whose advertising and promotional desires were self-curtailed in order not to distract from the values of the play.

The rules of the festival as related to the public are:

1. Do not open your umbrellas near the masquerades;

2. Do not smoke pipes or cigarettes near the masquerades;

3. Do not ride bicycles or motorbikes near the masquerades;

4. Do not adorn a cap, hat or any other head wares near the masquerades, religious head gear are, however excluded;

5. Above all and most important, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ADIMU, ALAKETE PUPA, ONIKO, OLOGEDE and ONIKO groups. Please seek guidance when in doubt

The Adamu Orisha play is an event of beauty, which in the views of many international spectators rank in pageantry on a higher plane than the Rio Carnival.

The Brazilian carnival is a UNESCO Tourist destination, which provides significant funds flow into Brazil’s economy thereby generating employment, which in turn generates income particularly for the immediate environs of Rio de Jeneiro.

Our current investment in the festival is therefore within the context of uplifting the play to an international standard with an eye for its potential economic impact on the lives of the residents of Lagos state.

I salute the foresightedness of the organizers of other similar festivals across our country who have contributed to promoting our national image and tourist economy and throw a challenge to Eyo masquerades, spectators and indeed all residents of Lagos State for us to put our best feet forward as the Centre of Excellence and place the Eyo Festival on the international tourist map.

This truly is a time to rejoice, that is why the customary salutation of the Eyo is “mo yo fun e, mo yo fun ra mi”. I rejoice with you as I rejoice within myself.

I thank you all and I wish you all a joyous and entertaining festival.

Eko o ni baje o!

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Governor of Lagos State