Epe Kilajolu Masquerade Thrills Tourists as Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun Leads By Example

Epe Kilajolu Masquerade Thrills Tourists as Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun leads By Example
The arrival of HRM Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun was heralded by thunderous cheers, chants

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By Babatunde Kaka

Eko Hot Blog reports that Epe annual Kilaloju masquerade ceremony 2022 has been held with thrills and lots of fun for indigenes and tourists from far and wide.

The iconic Kilajolu masquerade, on Sunday, 20th March 2022, thrilled tourists with an array of theatrics in celebration of the annual Eebi Festival in Epe.

Video: Epe Kilajolu Masquerade Thrills Tourists as Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun Leads By Example — The Oloja and Kilajolu are seen in a realm of spiritual communication.

The dreaded masquerade adorned with ritualistic and aesthetic crowns, costumes and canes, which are ancestral to the Ijebu part of the Yoruba traditional culture, arrived at the royal palace of Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun in a victory-like fashion.

As part of the tradition, the swift, acrobatic, and dance-freak masquerade stormed the palace to the first ritual of caning the Monarch, and once that is done, no one is exempted from the beating of the Masquerade

Eko Hot Blog reports that before the ritualistic caning of the kabiyesi, the masquerade will have to wait patiently in one of the rooms at the palace in anticipation of His Royal Majesty’s arrival and anticipation for the performance of the first rituals.

The arrival of HRM Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun was heralded by thunderous cheers, chants, eulogies accompanied by songs and trumpeting from the kinsmen and the royal bard.

The king, therefore, proceeded to meet with the Kilajolu masquerade, where both exchanged pleasantries followed by prayers for the prosperity of the town before the beating.

Ekohotblog reports that Oba Animashaun received tourists and visitors who included members of the Lagos State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, the Idogun Royal Family, and a team of youths who came for documentaries of the festival.

The Agbon Epe Land, High Chief Yesiru Dada, appreciated God for the peaceful celebrations of the 2022 Kilajolu Festival, stressing that the festival is meant for the youths, and they are enthusiastic about it. He also shed more light on the high points of the festival.

“The canning doesn’t hurt or become a wound. Every participant in the festival become prosperous. The Kilajolu masquerade is not an ‘orisha’ to be scared of; he beats the king, his chiefs and also the DPO. Whoever he beats becomes successful,” he said.

Some of the tourists at the festival, while speaking with Ekohotblog, expressed divergent opinions about the festival.

While Kimberly, a white woman, and Evans admitted their apprehension on whether they would be flogged or not, another guest, Lawal Afolashade, commended the people of Epe for their resolve to maintain still the age-long tradition which she said doesn’t exist any longer in some Yoruba communities.

However, all the guests described their experience as wonderful, entertaining and thrilling, stating that the enthusiasm, joy and togetherness exhibited by the people of Epe and the king are breathtaking.

Eko Hot Blog also reports that the celebration got the Ita-Opo axis on lockdown as different jubilant groups sponsored by traditional chiefs, technocrats, politicians and prominent Epe sons and daughters grooved with food, drinks and local musical performances from music artists till daybreak.

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