By: Dave Onorh
Lagos State on Saturday, December 27, 2025, came alive with colours, culture and pageantry as the iconic Eyo Festival was held at the historic Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos Island. The festival, also known as the Adamu Orisa Play, drew thousands of Lagos indigenes, cultural enthusiasts and tourists from across Nigeria and the diaspora.
The 2025 edition was staged to honour the legacies of four distinguished Lagosians whose lives and service left lasting imprints on the state and the nation: Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, former Governor of Lagos State; Sir Michael Otedola, renowned industrialist and philanthropist; Brigadier General Mobolaji Johnson (rtd.), the first Military Governor of Lagos State; and Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, respected market leader and mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
True to tradition, the festival featured hundreds of white-clad Eyo masquerades (Agogoro Eyo) parading through major streets of Lagos Island, led by the Adimu Orisa. With their signature flowing garments, wide-brimmed hats and staffs (opambata), the Eyos entertained spectators with rhythmic chants, dances and symbolic rituals deeply rooted in Yoruba cosmology.
Beyond spectacle, the Eyo Festival remains a powerful expression of Lagos history, spirituality and communal identity. Traditionally held to commemorate notable personalities or mark significant transitions, the festival also serves as a unifying platform, bringing together Lagos indigenes from different lineages and communities.
Lagos Mirror Magazine reports that the event further reinforced Lagos’ reputation as Nigeria’s cultural capital, promoting unity, tourism and intergenerational appreciation of indigenous traditions. The presence of traditional rulers, political leaders, cultural institutions and youths underscored a shared commitment to preserving Lagos heritage.
As Lagos continues to evolve as a global megacity, the Eyo Festival stands as a proud reminder that its growth is firmly anchored in rich culture, enduring values and a deep respect for those who shaped its past.
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