The traditional ‘Oro’ festival, a significant event in the cultural calendar of Ikorodu, Lagos State, has been slated to take place on May 16, 2024, both during the daytime and nighttime. This announcement came through a letter issued by the Ayangburen Palace and signed by Oba Kabiru Shotobi, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, with a copy of the letter seen by PUNCH Online on Sunday.
Dated April 16, 2024, the letter was addressed to the Medical Director of the Ikorodu General Hospital, titled ‘Notification of Magbo (Oro) Festival 2024.’ It notified recipients of the forthcoming festival and outlined certain traditions and precautions to be observed. According to tradition, all females are advised to stay indoors and refrain from venturing out during the Oro festival.
The Oro festival, deeply rooted in Yoruba tradition, holds great significance among male descendants and is marked by daytime processions and distinct sounds resonating throughout the community. It is a widely held belief that females are prohibited from witnessing the ritual ceremonies associated with the festival.
Despite attempts to gather reactions and clarifications on the matter, responses from key officials and authorities, including the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho, and the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, were not forthcoming. Efforts to reach out to the Ikorodu Palace for further details were also unsuccessful, as calls made went unanswered.
