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Chief Babatunde Ishola Lasisi Omitowo
[Otun Baale Orile Shomolu] |
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| Eegun Adakeja |
Masquerades are regarded as the beings from
heaven and their presence does not only cleanse the land, it also banishes the
evil spirits from taking over the entire community which they visit. The
masquerade is a deity and a certain time of the year is set aside for its
arrival and celebration. Masqueraders are known to be the ones welcoming the
masquerades from heaven to the world and they are also behind giving them a
good hosting as well as a successful departure. But before the arrival of
masquerades, a lot of preparation must have been put in place concerning eating
and drinking because of the invited people who will join in the celebration. People
normally come from far and near to attend the festival. Ifa priests are
consulted and the instructions from the divination are followed and adhered to strictly. On
the celebration's day the masqueraders and the acolytes are ready to escort
their different masquerades out.
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| Other Eegun's |
And these masquerades are already given names
by which they are identified. Seeing the masquerades displaying is an
interesting sight to behold and it is always filled with glamour and
aesthetics. Some masquerades are good dancers and their clothes are very colorful.
One important thing which the masquerade is good at is visiting people in their
homes and praying for them. And people give out their money willingly to
appreciate them. Masquerade is appeased with kolanut, Schnapps, a cockerel, bean
cake and pap. And women are barred from entering the shrine of the masquerades.
© Olalekan Oduntan 2014.
This is culture at its best.
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