The Police Chat

Eyo is a festival unique to Lagos, Nigeria. The main Eyo Festival is usually an annual treat. But its ripples echo through the entertainment scene all seasons of the year. Thanks to musicians, dramatists, visual artists and writers who have regularly explored various aspects of the songs, themes and other motifs of the festival that is synonymous with Lagos.

Among various Nigerian artistes that have continually celebrated Eyo in their works, Fuji acts, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and Wasiu Ayinde stand out. Both have, in various albums, sung the expansive panegyrics of the tradition, especially when they are singing the praise of the Oba of Lagos and other top indigenes of the popular and populous city. In Fertilizer, Barrister digs into the poetic root of the festival, while Wasiu‘s trip into the Eyo chant in his album, Consolidation, is also remarkable.

In such albums, Eyo legends or deities such as Adimu, Laba, Oniko etc. vibrate.

It is such an endless potential to spur excitement that casts many eyes towards the Tafawa Balewa Square Lagos, where the Eyo Festival 2009 will take place. For the first time, the state government and the sponsor, Globacom, are planning a centralised show that will feature traditional Eyo rites and various performances to which they are beckoning tourists from different parts of the world.

It is good that the festival is now taken to TBS. This means that for the first time, people will be able to behold and appreciate various episodes of the festival. Besides, it may eventually be taking a shape similar to the Ojude Oba Festival where all events are held at the same venue - the palace of the Awujale of Ijebu Ode, Oba Sikiru Adetona. Incidentally, Globacom is also the major sponsor of the Ojude Oba.

It is also good that the state government has announced that the posh luxury buses in its transport service, the BRT, will be freely available to convey passengers to the venue. Good decision. The gesture, and the inspiring adverts that have been mounted, are a sign that the organisers are determined to grow tourism. Similarly, the decision not to charge any gate fee is a good one. In the future, the festival can generate money for itself once it is consistently nurtured.

The only areas they must be up and doing are in crowd control and general security. If anything, the police must be given the right orientation so that tourists will not be bullied.

To this end the Lagos State Government has suspended the restriction of movement in this month environment sanitation exercise on Saturday.

The suspension became necessary to enable Lagos residents enjoy the cultural heritage of Lagos as the Adamu Orisa play popularly refered to as Eyo Festival will be staged in honour of a foremost Lagosian, Otunba Theophius Owolabi Shobowale Benson.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire, who disclosed this in his office said Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, who gave the directive, noted that nothing was too much to do in honour of the late Chief T. O. S. Benson and the projection of our rich cultural heritage which preaches love and happiness to the outside world.

The suspension of the restriction of movement, according to the Governor, is to ensure free movement of human and material resources for hitch-free celebration.

Banire, however, said the absence of movement restriction should not translate to cancellation of the sanitation exercise and implored Lagos residents to observe the environmental sanitation by cleaning their houses and rid their environment of filth, while attention should also be paid to the desilting of the drains to allow free flow of storm water