Egungun festival has been one of the distinctive features of Yoruba culture; a cultural display that attracts foreigners from Europe, America and other continents of the Globe. Thus, it has been a widely celebrated events amongst traditional worshippers. The festival is noted and exciting despite the risk involved. The display of individual’s magical and diabolical power has cost lives, as it was recently seen in Ibadan, Igboho and other Yoruba cities where crisis had erupted in variety. Notably, Degbo scenario at Sanngo Saki, Masquerade from Oke Moibi scenario at Isale-Abudu, Saki, Mafarakanmi scenario at Asunnara, Saki amongst others could not be forgotten in haste.
However, Saki is gradually turning to a den of criminals, hooliganism, thugery and cultism. Selling of marijuana and weed has taken over the strategic places. Secondary School students as well as Primary School students are found of possessing magical and diabolical power in the school premises, engaging in superiority contest of diabolical power amongst themselves and threatening teachers with the aforementioned. The action which has endangered the future of this community through the induction and initiation of the younger ones.
Today, the relative peace and security enjoy in Saki is fragile and should not be jeopardize for any reason. Any act of violence can lead to crisis between groups . Many people are escorting and accompanying the masquerades with different intentions. Some are for the fun of the tradition. While Some are to take revenge and we also have those that are to prove the superiority of their diabolical power amongst the co-escort as we have seen such cases in our community.
Yesterday, 20th of June, 2021, Igboro roundabout, Baba Elese junction at Oke-elefun experienced fight which was perpetrated by the hoodlums who hide under the cloak of Egungun festival opportunism to launch an attack on their opponents. More so, at Igboro roundabout axis, the adherents of Egungun festival attacked themselves with bottles and cutlasses. Many of them sustained injury, only God knows how deadly the reprisal attack would look like. On the 19th of June, 2021, a fight happened at Igboro area where those with a masquerade took part of the oil on fire and attempted to pour it on the other party who are either escort or event viewers.
Yes, we both have equal right; the residents and the celebrants but ones right should not pose threat to the right of others. If Muslims want to celebrate any of their festivals, they go to Eid prayer ground and perform the prayers within a short period of time. If Christians want to celebrate any of their festivals, they will go to Church or Orioke without posing threat to the rights of others. So also the Egungun worshippers should equally make use of their shrine (Igbale) to celebrate their festivals, perhaps, if the place is not spacious enough, the authority should give them a site that is spacious for their magic and wonders. With the overwhelming figure of hoodlums in our society today, celebrating Egungun festival by roaming the street is a potential source of future crises in the community: crises that can claim lives and properties.
May I appeal to the Local Government Chairman and Okere Palace to take a look at what roaming the street by the masquerades can cause in our community, considering the population of hoodlums in our community today.
Egungun Festival is part and parcel of our culture. It cannot be erased and must not be condemned. But there is need to reorganize its celebration in accordance with the current situation of our country.
I said the aforementioned in the interest of the community and in the interest of the celebrants as well.
God bless you and I