The Eyo Festival Of Isale Eko (Lagos Island), Lagos, Nigeria To any Lagosian, especially those from the Island, The Eyo Festival brings back memories that give one a sense of pride, it imbibes thoughts that bring you a sense of strenghth, a sense of euphoria, a sense of what cultural practice and cultural festivals actually mean. Eyo is Lagos Islands own masquerade, unique to the state and extremely special. On days like these, the indegenes and inhabitants of Lagos are brought together in a celebration of one of the best things about being from Isale Eko, - Eyo Bambamtawa, Eyo kii san owo ibode, Eyo amuludun, eyo amu eko duro gboin, Eko o ni baje... Eyo bajulaiye Eshua, Eyo Oniko, Eyo akere, Ti Isale Eko, Akete Eko, Awa loniwon, Tiwa lomishe, Ederan wa, Ibe lonjele, Ade Ori Oba, Iga Idugaran, Iga Ile ola, Iga Ile ola, Ariremudele, Ajose wa o ni baje, Aye le, Eyo fun fun fun, Eyo felele Eshua!! Edumare, aa wo wa, Iga aa mulero......... Eyoooo!!!.
Thanks so much to those who got good footage of the festival on April 25th 2009 and shared with U Tube and Vimeo.
Sometimes people do ask me what is this Eyo all about, in simplicity, the only way I can describe Eyo is that its one of the few things that actually make me smile and that is my usual answer or If you want to know what eyo is, then go pay homage at Iduganran and drink in the atmosphere of the Island, its breathtaking, its uplifting, and although many describe Lagos as they see it, hot, humid, swelteringly dusty, overcrowded, teeming with activity and people, full of migrants from all parts of Nigeria and supposedly having no true Lagosians present especially when I tell people I am indeed from Lagos State; Being an honoured descendand of a family trully from Lagos Island, for me Lagos will always be home. Absolutely Nothing compares.