Oloolu, Ibadan’s Most Feared Masquerade, Returns to Ibadan Streets Tommorow , Returns to Ibadan Streets
The ancient city of Ibadan came alive this week with the appearance of its most feared and revered cultural icon, the Oloolu masquerade, marking the height of its annual festival celebrated every July.
Oloolu, known as the “father of all masquerades” in Ibadan, emerged in his full regalia, moving through historic quarters such as Beere, Gate, Ayeye, Agbeni, Itemerin, Oranyan, Idi-arere, Oke-aremo, Agugu, Oremeji, Popo-Yemoja, and Oja’ba, while residents and traditional worshippers observed strict ritual practices associated with his presence.
Believed to possess powerful spiritual forces, Oloolu’s appearance is accompanied by solemnity and caution. Women are strictly forbidden from seeing the masquerade, and many households in his path had already vacated female occupants in adherence to ancient taboos. The Ibadan traditional council and local authorities had earlier issued public advisories to prevent any violations of these sacred rules.
According to Yoruba oral tradition, Oloolu was originally a fierce war masquerade from Ogbagi in present-day Ondo State. He was captured during a battle by the Ibadan warrior Ayorinde Aje. Legend has it that Aje beheaded the bearer’s wife and used her skull in Oloolu’s costume after she resisted continuing the journey to Ibadan.
The name “Oloolu” is derived from a phrase meaning “one who places their life in peril”, an indication of the power and danger believed to reside in the masquerade.
For many, the festival is more than spectacle. Oloolu is regarded as a spiritual entity capable of invoking rain, protecting the city from calamities, and offering blessings such as fertility, healing, and prosperity. Residents and traditionalists often offer prayers and sacrifices during his appearance, hoping to attract divine favor.
“Oloolu is not just a masquerade. He is a spirit, a protector of Ibadan,” said Mogaji Kazeem Omotosho Abija, a traditional leader in Ode Aje, where the masquerade is kept. “Our ancestors consult him in times of need, when there is drought, plague, or spiritual disturbance in the land.”
The festival is guided by strict cultural and spiritual codes. The bearer of Oloolu must abstain from sexual activity for at least 30 days prior, wear no shoes, and observe intense purification rites. In addition, no other masquerade is permitted to perform while Oloolu is in public, a testament to the exclusivity of his authority in the city’s traditional hierarchy.
Despite its spiritual gravitas, Oloolu’s public appearance is also closely monitored by security operatives to prevent clashes. In recent years, tensions have occasionally flared between traditionalists and civic groups over the restriction placed on female movement during the festival. However, this year’s edition concluded without any reported incidents, thanks to the cooperation of all stakeholders.
As Oloolu returns to his shrine, residents are left with a renewed sense of cultural pride, awe, and reverence — a reminder that in Ibadan, tradition is not merely remembered but lived.
By Akindele Alabi, Westerndailynews.com
*Reporting from Ibadan, Oyo State
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