The history of this very important Yoruba Eyo Festival is reputed have dated back to 1750 CE i.e. about 260 years ago when it was introduced by 2 male cousins of Olori Olugbani, the then wife of Oba Ado and the mother of Erelu Kuti of Lagos. Its exact origin is in contention though between people of Iperu in Ogun State who claimed that Eyo Masquerade came from their place and the indigenes of Badagry who also claimed Eyo Play use to be staged on market days during the times gone by. However, the latter genesis of the event seems to be favored.

1. EYO
FESTIVAL IN
LAGOS STATE,
NIGERIA
Let’s Get Started…

2. The Eyo Festival, otherwise known as the Adamu
Orisha Play, is a Yoruba festival unique to Lagos,
Nigeria.
In modern times, it is presented by the people of
Lagos as a tourist event and, due to its history, is
traditionally performed on Lagos Island

3. A full week before the festival (always a Sunday), the ‘senior’ eyo group,
the Adimu (identified by a black, broad-rimmed hat), goes public with a
staff. When this happens, it means the event will take place on the
following Saturday. Each of the four other ‘important’ groups — Laba
(Red), Oniko (yellow), Ologede (Green) and Agere (Purple) — take
their turns in that order from Monday to Thursday.

4. The word "Eyo" also refers to the costumed dancers, known as
the masquerades that come out during the festival. The origins of
this observance are found in the inner workings of the secret
societies of Lagos. Back in the days, The Eyo festival is held to
escort the soul of a departed Lagos King or Chief and to usher
in a new king.

5. On Eyo Day, the main highway in the heart of the city (from the
end of Carter Bridge to Tinubu Square) is closed to traffic,
allowing for procession from Idumota to the Iga Idunganran
palace. The white-clad Eyo masquerades represent the spirits of
the dead, and are referred to in Yoruba Language as "agogoro
Eyo" (literally: "tall Eyo").

6. Bridge pillars in
Lagos showing
Eyo figures

7. Members of the
Eyo Iga Etti
procession at the
Eyo festival at
Teslim Balogun
Stadium in Lagos,
including a man
carrying a burning
pot on his head

8. Masquerades
of the Eyo Iga
Faji parading
at the TBS.

9. A performer
on stilts as
part of the
Eyo Agere
Molokun
procession
parading at
the TBS.

10. A bus with Eyo
masquerades
painted on the back,
with the slogan
"Eko o ni baje"
(literally Lagos will
not spoil, a
colloquialism for
Lagos will prevail).

11. Here is a list of Prohibited Items at the festival:
Okada: commercial motorcycles
Bicycles
Sandals
Suku: A hairstyle that is popular among the Yorubas, one that
has the hair converge at the middle, then shoot upward, before
tipping downward.
Smoking
The masquerades are known to beat people who use any of the
prohibited items at sight with their staffs.