This year’s edition of the annual traditional oro festival, usually held in Ikorodu, Lagos State, has been scheduled for 16 May 2024, daytime and nighttime.
This was disclosed in a letter issued by the Ayangburen Palace and signed by the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi; a copy of which was sighted by newsmen on Sunday.
Dated 16 April 2024, the letter was addressed to the Medical Director of the Ikorodu General Hospital.
It read: “This is to notify you of the above festival, which is slated for Thursday, 16 May 2024.
“According to tradition, all females are advised to remain in their respective homes and avoid moving around the town during the oro festival.
“Please note that your organisation is affected by falling within the oro traditional jurisdictions. You are hereby advised to adhere to the traditions of the town”.
The Oro festival, among others, is a prominent festival in the Yoruba tradition.
It’s celebrated by male descendants and usually characterised by a daytime procession and high-pitched sounds in some areas or across the community as the case may be.
It’s believed that females mustn’t be present during the ritual rites of the festival.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho; and the spokesperson for the state Police Command, Superintendent Benjamin Hundeyin did not pick their calls when contacted.
They have also not responded to the text messages sent to them.
Efforts made to get more clarification on the matter from the Ikorodu Palace also did not yield positive results as the calls made were unanswered.
