Name of state: Lagos

Culture of state: Yoruba

Location of the Yoruba states:

The Yoruba speaking states in Nigeria are located in the South West of Nigeria. The
bulk of the Yoruba currently live in southwest Nigeria, in six states: Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo,
Osun, Ondo, and Lagos. Large populations of Yoruba people are also in the Kwara
and Kogi states in north-central Nigeria.

There are twenty local government areas in Lagos and they are; Agege, Alimosho,
Apapa, Ifako-Ijaye, Ikeja, Kosofe, Mushin, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu, Eti-Osa, Lagos
Island, Ojo, Epe, Lagos Mainland, Surulere, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Amuwo-Odofin,
Badagry, Ikorodu, Ibeju-Lekki.
The traditional title of the Yoruba is Oba.

Traditional institute of the Lagos

Previous rulers of Lagos have used the titles of Ologun (derived from
Oloriogun), Eleko and, most recently, Oba of Lagos.

Origin of the Yoruba people

The Yoruba people and descendant are black people who occupies the south-
western area of Nigeria in Africa. The origin and existence of the Yoruba race can be
traced to their ancient father ODUDUWA who migrated from the ancient city of
Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Oduduwa's father: Lamurudu and most of their Arabian
relatives were Muslims but Oduduwa is an idol worshipper, they revolted against
him and he fled from Mecca to ILE-IFE, an old township of western Nigeria. The
Yoruba race begins to grow through the expansion of Oduduwa sons and daughters
and they formed peoples and languages among are they Egbados, Ketu, Ijebu, Ijesa,
Ondo, Ikale, Ilaje, e.t.c. They became kings in all these towns and spread through the
surface of the present Yoruba land in western Nigeria. Most of the roles and
activities of the Yoruba people were known in the rule of the old Oyo empire. Till this
present time, IFA an ancestral god worshiped by Oduduwa is still consulted and
worshipped on occasions in some parts of the town in Yoruba land especially Oyo.
We have other cultural festival like EGUNGUN masquerade and OSUN Osogbo, the
river goddess, in other parts of the Yoruba kingdom.
Most of the Yoruba race have similar cultural heritage in their taste for food, fashion
and even appearance, with most of them identified by their tribal marks and dresses.
During the old Oyo empire, the Yoruba kingship rule gained much popularity and
spread across some part south eastern part of Nigeria. The Greatest days of the
Yoruba's under the Oyo empire was during the war and invasion of the Europeans
(Britain) in 1895,in Oyo city, though they were conquered, the Yoruba's hold on to
the dignity and integrity of their culture. The political institutions of the Yoruba
people through their kingship rule shows that democracy has existed in Yoruba land
before the arrival of the Europeans. In conclusion, the history and culture of the
Yoruba race has explained the role of the Oyo empire historically bringing the glory
back to the culture of Yoruba people through the development of their cultural
inheritance, prosperity, power and respect for the Yoruba people and their culture.
The question is now whether in this modern world and civilization if this people s still
devoted to their cultural values and ideas which they embodied.

Origin of Lagos
Lagos was originally inhabited by the Awori subgroup of the Yoruba people in the
15th century and Binis in the 16th century. The Awori moved to an island now called
Iddo and then to the larger Lagos Island. Because the area was dominated by the
then expansive Benin Empire, they called it Eko, from the late 16th century to the
mid-19th century. The name Eko was given to it by Oba Ado a prince from Benin
Kingdom. Eko
is still the native name for Lagos to date.
Lagos (Portuguese for "lakes") was a name given to the settlement by the
Portuguese. Throughout history, it was home to a number of warring ethnic Yoruba
groups who had settled in the area. Following its early settlement by the Awori
nobility, the state first came to the attention of the Portuguese in the 15th century.
Portuguese explorer Rui de Sequeira visited the area in 1472, naming the area
around the city Lago de Curamo, which means Lake of Curamo. Newspaper
illustration from 1852, showing the destruction of Lagos by British forces.
In Britain's early 19th-century fight against the transatlantic slave trade, its West
Africa Squadron or Preventative Squadron as it was also known, continued to pursue
Portuguese, American, French, and Cuban slave ships and to impose anti-slavery
treaties with West African coastal chiefs with so much doggedness that they created
a strong presence along the West African coast from Sierra Leone all the way to the
Niger Delta (today's Nigeria) and as far south as Congo. In 1849, Britain appointed
John Beecroft Consul of the Bights of Benin and Biafra, a position he held (along with
his governorship of Fernando Po) until his death in 1854. John Duncan was appointed
Vice Consul and was located at Whydah. At the time of Beecroft's appointment, the
Kingdom of Lagos (under Oba Kosoko) was in the western part of the Consulate of
the Bights of Benin and Biafra and was a key slave trading port. In 1851 and with
pressure from liberated slaves who now wielded political and business influence,
Britain intervened in Lagos in what is now known as the Bombardment of Lagos or
Capture of Lagos resulting in the installation of Oba Akitoye and the ouster of Oba
Kosoko. Oba Akitoye then signed the Treaty between Great Britain and Lagos
abolishing slavery. The signing of the 1852 treaty ushered in the Consular Period in
Lagos' history wherein Britain provided military protection for Lagos.
Following threats from Kosoko and the French who were positioned at Whydah, a
decision was made by Lord Palmerston (British Prime Minister) who noted in 1861,
"the expediency of losing no time in assuming the formal Protectorate of
Lagos".William McCoskry, the Acting Consul in Lagos with Commander Bedingfield
convened a meeting with Oba Dosunmu on 30 July 1861 aboard HMS Prometheus
where Britain's intent was explained and a response to the terms were required by
August 1861. Dosunmu resisted the terms of the treaty but under the threat to
unleash a bombardment on Lagos by Commander Bedingfield, Dosunmu relented
and signed the Lagos Treaty of Cession on 6 August 1861.
Lagos saw protest regarding house and land tax in 1895 Lagos Marina (around 1900)
Aerial view of Lagos in 1929 Lagos was declared a colony on 5 March 1862. The
remainder of modern-day Nigeria was seized in 1887, and when the Colony and
Protectorate of Nigeria was established in 1914, Lagos became its capital, continuing
as such after the country's independence from Britain in 1960[citation needed].
Along with migrants from all over Nigeria and other West African nations were the
returnee ex-slaves known as Creoles, who came from Freetown, Sierra Leone, Brazil,
and the West Indies to Lagos. The Creoles contributed to Lagos' modernization and
their knowledge of Portuguese architecture can still be seen from the architecture on
Lagos Island. Since the 19th century, Lagos gradually transformed into a melting pot
of Africans and Europeans. Railway links and telephone cables connecting Lagos to
London had been established by 1886. Electric street lighting was introduced in the
city in 1898.
Lagos experienced rapid growth throughout the 1960s and 1970s as a result of
Nigeria's economic boom. Before the creation of Lagos State on 27 May 1967, Lagos,
which was the country's capital had been administered directly by the Federal
Government as a Federal Territory through the Federal Ministry of Lagos Affairs,
while the Lagos City Council (LCC) governed the city. Lagos, along with the towns
from the then Western region (Ikeja, Agege, Mushin, Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry),
were eventually captured to create Lagos State. Lagos city was split into the present
day seven Local Government Areas (LGAs), while the other towns now make up 13
LGAs in the state. Lagos played the dual role of being the State and Federal Capital
until 1976 when the state capital was moved to Ikeja. Lagos was adversely affected
during Nigeria's military rule. Also, on 12 December 1991, the seat of the Federal
Government was also formally relocated to Abuja. However, Lagos remains the
financial center of the country, and also grew to become the most populous
conurbation in the country.

Lagos (Nigerian English: /ˈleɪɡɒs/;Yoruba: Èkó) is the most populous city in Africa
with an estimated population of 15.4 million[citation needed] in 2023. Lagos was the
national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 following the government's decision
to move their capital to Abuja in the center of the country. The Lagos metropolitan
area had a total population of roughly 20.1 million as of 2022, making it the largest
metropolitan area in Africa. Lagos is a major African financial center and is the
economic hub of Lagos State and Nigeria at large. The city has been described as the
cultural, financial, and entertainment capital of Africa, and is a significant influence
on commerce, entertainment, technology, education, politics, tourism, art, and
fashion. Lagos is also among the top ten of the world's fastest-growing cities and
urban areas. The megacity has the fourth-highest GDP in Africa and houses one of
the largest and busiest seaports on the continent. The Lagos metropolitan area is a
major educational and cultural centre in Sub Saharan Africa. Due to the large urban
population and port traffic volumes, Lagos is classified as a Medium-Port Megacity.
Lagos initially emerged as a home to the Awori subgroup of the Yoruba of West
Africa and later emerged as a port city of the Benin Empire that originated on a
collection of islands, which are contained in the present day Local Government Areas
(LGAs) of Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, Amuwo-Odofin and Apapa. The islands are separated
by creeks, fringing the southwest mouth of Lagos Lagoon, while being protected
from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier islands and long sand spits such as Bar Beach,
which stretch up to 100 km (62 mi) east and west of the mouth. Due to rapid
urbanization, the city expanded to the west of the lagoon to include areas in the
present day Lagos Mainland, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, and Surulere. This led to the
classification of Lagos into two main areas: the Island, which was the original city of
Lagos, and the Mainland, which it has since expanded into. This city area was
governed directly by the Federal Government through the Lagos City Council, until
the creation of Lagos State in 1967, which led to the splitting of Lagos city into the
present-day seven Local Government Areas (LGAs), and an addition of other towns
(which now make up 13 LGAs) from the then Western Region to form the state.

However, the state capital was later moved to Ikeja in 1976, and the federal capital
moved to Abuja in 1991. Even though Lagos is still widely referred to as a city, the
present-day Lagos, also known as "Metropolitan Lagos", and officially as "Lagos
Metropolitan Area" is an urban agglomeration or conurbation, consisting of 16 LGAs
including Ikeja, the state capital of Lagos State. This conurbation makes up 37% of
Lagos State total land area, but houses about 85% of the state's total population.

The exact population of Metropolitan Lagos is disputed. In the 2006 federal census
data, the conurbation had a population of about 8 million people. However, the
figure was disputed by the Lagos State Government, which later released its own
population data, putting the population of Lagos Metropolitan Area at approximately
16 million. Daily, the Lagos area is growing by some 3,000 people or
around 1.1 million annually, so the true population figure of the greater Lagos area
in 2022 is roughly 28 million (up from some 23.5 million in 2018). Lagos may
therefore have overtaken Kinshasa as Africa's most populous city. As of 2015,
unofficial figures put the population of "Greater Metropolitan Lagos", which includes
Lagos and its surrounding metro area, extending as far as into Ogun State, at
approximately 21 million.

Tinubu Square in 1962 with a modernist fountain.

Traditional attire of the Yoruba in Lagos.
Yoruba fashion and garment culture – which is awash with styles such as four-piece
female of iro (wrapper), buba (blouse) and ipele (shawl) with the gele accessory

(headgear) as well as the male agbada (robe), buba and, dansiki (baggy shirts),
sokoto (trouser) and fila (cap accessory) – has been synonymous with Aso-Oke
Traditional food of the Yoruba in Lagos.

Yoruba is one of the biggest tribes in Nigeria. These people have a very well
developed culture including food. Most Yoruba foods are usually a blend of different
colored food elements, it is always a pleasant sight to behold, that’s the way the
Yorubas like to eat, they like a combination of soups/stew/ assorted meat plus eba or
pounded yam.

1. Ewedu:
This is the most popular Yoruba soup. You can find there Ewedu leaves, crayfish, and
many unique spices. The Ewedu broom makes the taste of a dish really unique.
Ewedu is good to be served with Semo, Amala or Eba.

2. Ewa Agoyin:

Ewa means beans, and Agoyin is a dish belonging to the inventors of this tasty dish.
The beans should be cooked to the state of a soft paste and then mashed. The
feature of the dish is a sauce of palm oil, ground crayfish, and dried pepper.

3. Iresi Eyin:

Iresi is translated as a riсe from Yoruba language, Eyin is Palm nut fruit. Also, it can
be translated as egg, it depends on pronunciation. You don’t need much for the
preparation, just mix all necessary ingredients and make it simmer.

4. Amala:

Classical Yoruba dish made out of cassava flour or yam. You should blend the yam
flour into a smooth texture. Amala has dark brown color it is because of dry yam
pieces. It is served with different soups, for example with Ewedu or Gbegiri.

5. Dodo:

One of the most favorite Yoruba tribe food. The dish is simple: fried pieces of
plantain with salt. You can serve it as the main dish or just as snack. Simple but tasty
– a perfect combination for meal.

6. Asun:
It is considered a finger food. The recipe is simple and available – fried goat meat
with a big amount of pepper. It has a breathtaking aroma. And for those who like to
eat meat dishes, its taste would be unforgettable.

7. Gbegiri:

Health Benefits of Gbegiri Soup

Gbegiri is a type of soup that is popular in Yoruba cuisine, and it is made with ground
beans, a variety of protein sources, and a blend of spices. The soup is a good source
of protein, fiber, and other essential nutrients, and it is often served with a staple
such as amala or eba.

8. Pounded yam:
Pounded yam, called Iyan in Yoruba, is another popular Yoruba dish, and it is made
from boiled yam, which is then pounded into a paste.
It is a good source of complex carbohydrates, fiber, and other essential nutrients,
and it is often eaten with soups.

9. Dodo Ikire:

This is one food that is popular in the South-West, particularly Osun State, where it
takes its name from.
It is one of the healthy spicy foods in Nigeria.
While it is a traditional delicacy in that part of the country, it is popularly eaten as a
snack these days.
Dodo Ikire is prepared using over-ripe plantains and spices. The plantain is diced into
small chunks, then pepper, onion, and other spices are added to it.
It is then mashed to a pulp before it is fried in palm oil, which also has a rich flavour.
This results in a sweet, spicy snack that can also be eaten as a meal as it is very
satisfying.
10. Egusi:

Egusi or egusi soup is a type of soup that is popular in Yoruba cuisine, and it is made
with ground melon seeds, a variety of protein sources, and a blend of spices.

The soup is a good source of protein, fiber, and other essential nutrients, and it is
often served with a staple grain such as amala or eba.

11. : Ogi:

Akamu and Akara

Ogi, also known as pap, is another food that is enjoyed in the southwest. It is made
from fermented corn that has been ground to a paste.

To prepare ogi, water is then added to the paste until it thickens. It has a similarity to
custard, except that while custard is dry and in powder form, ogi is in the form of
paste. Although these days, some people package it as powder.

Ogi is a very satisfying delicacy that is rich is carbohydrates and fibre. It can hold an
appetite for a very long time, which makes it good for managing hunger for those
who want to lose weight. It also helps with passing out waste, preventing
constipation.

12. Akara:

Peppers, and it is typically quite spicy.

The dish is traditionally served with a type of soft, white bread called “agege bread,”
but it can also be eaten with rice or other types of bread.

Ewa agoyin is a popular street food in Nigeria and it is known for its bold, spicy
flavor. It is typically served as a snack or light meal, but it can also be enjoyed as a
side dish with other
Traditional wedding ceremony of the Yoruba
people in Lagos
The marriage process in indigenous Yoruba land starts right after a young man has
made a choice of a maiden he desires. His parents’ appoints somebody who is called
the ALARINA that is a middleman or a chaperon, who starts the marriage process
formally.
The ALARINA, starts an inquisition into the family of the maiden in question, by
employing skills such as the use of word of mouth and investigations to find out
whether the maiden’s family background was compatible with that of the young
man, if there is a history of genetic diseases and disorders in the maiden’s family and
to determine the kind of reputation that the maiden has.
If the ALARINA disapproves of the girl, further plans are cancelled and the couple can
no longer be wed, they can only try eloping at the risk of being cut off from their
family forever.
However if the ALARINA approves the union, the families move to the next stage,
which is to arrange an informal meeting, usually only close kin are invited, where the
two families meet each as prospective in laws for the first time. This meeting called
MOMI N MO, is usually either at the bride to be’s family home.
It is at this meeting that formal courting begins and they fix a date for the meeting.
At this meeting, the groom to be’s family is also presented with a list of items which
form part of the dowry to be paid at the main wedding ceremony, this list is called
ERU IYAWO.
There is a sample of items in such wedding lists. In this day and age very few things
have changed about the nature of these ceremonies that precede the traditional
wedding.
The use of ALARINAs is practically nonexistent and the MO MI N MO ceremony is
now popularly referred to as the introduction ceremony, this is no longer a close kin
affair, as it is now largely a reflection of some of the activities that will take place on
the day of the traditional wedding.

Yoruba traditional engagement Ceremony:

The Yoruba Traditional Wedding Ceremony, also known as the Yoruba Engagement
ceremony, or Igbeyawo in Yoruba, usually takes place days, weeks or even months
before the white wedding ceremony. Some families choose to hold both weddings
on the same day. The bride’s family is typically responsible for covering the
ceremony costs, but some families choose to split the costs as they please. The
entire ceremony is orchestrated by two representatives who are chosen or hired by
each side of the family. The groom’s family is represented by the Alaga Iduro/ Olopa
Iduro (standing policeman), while the bride’s family is represented by the Alaga
Ijoko/Olopa Ijoko (sitting policeman).
The Yoruba traditional wedding ceremony usually kicks of with the bride’s family
seated and waiting for the groom’s family to arrive. Both the groom and bride are
absent at this point. Once the groom’s family arrive, the Alaga Ijoko welcomes them
at the gate in the company of the the housewives of the bride’s side of the family.
The Alaga then asks the groom’s family to state their reasons for coming before
collecting an entry fee from them. Finally, she introduces them to the bride’s family
before some prayers are said. After the introduction, the groom’s family kneel and
prostrate before for the family of the bride. The two families then sit at opposite
sides of the room, while the Alagas sit or stand in their midst.
Once seated, the Alaga Iduro presents the proposal letter to the Alaga Ijoko on
behalf of the groom’s family. This letter is read out loud by a younger female
representative of the bride’s family, such as the younger sister or cousin. An
acceptance letter is then presented to the groom’s family before some prayers are
said.
After the prayers, the groom dances in with some of his friends, and prostrates a
total of four times. On the first two occasions, he prostrates for his new in-laws with
his friends, before prostrating before them alone the third time. During this third
prostration alone, the two families stretch out their arms to pray for him. Before he
takes his seat, he prostrates one final time with his friends, but this time around,
before his own family. He then gives out some money before taking a seat while
awaiting his bride’s arrival.

Once the groom is seated, the veiled bride dances in accompanied by her
parents and Ore Iyawo, who are usually some close female friends and female
family members. She then kneels before her parents, who pray for her and
bless her. She does the same thing with her husband’s parents, before taking
off her veil and joining her husband. On getting to her husband, she kneels
before him while prayers are said for both of them. He then gives her some
money, before carrying her up for all to see. At this point, the yoruba bride
puts the groom’s fila (cap) on his head to signify an accepted marriage
proposal.

THE ENGAGEMENT GIFTS – ERU IYAWO:

Once the couple is seated, the Alaga Ijoko then asks the bride to select one of
the many engagement gifts (eru iyawo) brought by the groom’s family. The Eru
Iyawo usually contains lots of food, and each item has some significance. At a
yoruba traditional wedding ceremony, the bride is expected to select the
Bible/Quran from the Eru Iyawo. This religious book will have her engagement
ring attached to it. The bride gives her husband the ring, which he places on
her finger for her to display happily to everyone. The groom’s family also
present the bride price and fees requested to the family of their new wife.

CUTTING THE ENGAGEMENT CAKE – AKARA OYIBO:

No yoruba traditional wedding ceremony is complete without the
Engagement cake (Akara Oyibo). This special cake is crafted to depict some
elements of the Yoruba culture, e.g a talking drum, calabash, fruits or a cake
topper of the bride and groom in their traditional yoruba attire. The cutting of
this cake and sharing of the cake between the bride and groom is a pretty
important step in the wedding . After cutting the cake, the bride’s family
formally hand over their daughter to the groom’s father in the presence of
everyone. Finally, the groom’s family come out as a group to thank their in-
laws for giving out their daughter before the final prayers are said and the
celebrations begin .

Married couple of the Yoruba

Traditional festival in yoruba land
 Nigeria is the largest black nation on earth and it is rich in cultural heritages. There
are more than 250 ethnic groups and over 520 different languages in Nigeria.
Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo are the major ones. Each of these cultures has festivals
which showcase their history and culture.

Yoruba land has a very rich and diverse cultural heritage. The richness of the Yoruba
culture in Nigeria can be seen and experienced in their festivals. Some of these
festivals attract Nigerians living abroad, spectators, and tourist from all around the
world. Some of these festivals have even been upgraded by the government to
promote income from tourism. These festivals feature lots of entertainment which
include traditional musicians with heavy rhythm and their traditional instrument,
drums, and advanced percussion, various traditional Yoruba cultural dance, etc.
Below are the popular Yoruba festivals that are celebrated every year in Nigeria.

1. Eyo Festival: Eyo Festival is a popular Yoruba festival peculiar to Lagos

state. “Eyo” is the name of the costumed dancers that come out during the festival.
These costumed dancers are popularly called masquerades. The festival back in the
early days started as a festival to escort the spirit of a dead Lagos king or high chief
and to usher in the new king or chief.
Although most of the Yoruba traditional religions have lost a majority of their
followers to Christianity and Islam, the Eyo festival is still celebrated today as a
tourist attraction. The festival in modern times now takes place on Lagos Island in
Lagos State, Nigeria. The festival generates revenue for small businesses around
Lagos Island and also the Lagos State government.
2. Igogo Festival: The Igogo Festival is a Yoruba festival which takes
place every year in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. The festival is held in honour of Queen
Orosen, a goddess and a mythical wife of ancient Oluwo of Iwo, Olowo Rerengejen.
The festival takes place every year in the month of September and lasts for
seventeen days. During the festival celebration, the king of Owo and the high chiefs
all dress like women wearing beaded gowns, coral beads, head gears and caps with
their hair plaited. The Igogo Festival is also a time for the celebration of new yams.

3. Lagos Black Heritage Festival: Lagos Black Heritage

Festival is a prominent festival which takes place in Lagos every year. It is an annual
colourful folk festival in Lagos State. The Lagos Black Heritage Festival is a festival
aimed to showcase the diversity and richness of the African heritage. The festival
features a lot of events including the popular Lagos Carnival which is also known as
the Caretta or Fanti Carnival of Lagos. The annual event takes place on the Lagos
Island with lots of display of troops dressed in beautiful costumes and also different
forms of entertainment such as dance, drama, music, paintings, photo exhibition,
etc.

4. Ojude Oba Festival: Ojude Oba is another popular Yoruba annual

festival in Ijebu Ode, a Yoruba town in Ogun State, Nigeria. The festival always holds
on the third day after Eid al-Kabir. Ojude Oba Festival is a festival that showcases
history, legends, conquest, and diversity all in one event. During the festival, a
majority of indigenes of jebu Ode travel from far and near to pay homage to their
king. More than two hundred and fifty thousand people from all over the six
geopolitical zones of Nigeria attends the festival every year.

5. Olojo festival: Olojo Festival is an annual popular festival in Ile-Ife

town in Osun State. The festival is a celebration of Ogun the god of Iron. Yoruba
people believe that Ogun is the first son of Oduduwa. Oduduwa is believed to be the
progenitor of the Yoruba race. Olojo festival day which can be literally translated as
the “Owner of the day”, signifies the day of the year that the Olodumare (i.e. creator
of the universe) has specially blessed. The Ooni, the king of Ile-Ife appears in public
on this day with the Are Crown (i.e. King’s Crown) after several days of being in
seclusion. On this day, the Ooni will visit different shrines to offer prayers for the
peace in the Yoruba lands and in Nigeria. Ile-Ife is seen as the source or origin of the
Yoruba race. And so, this festival is held in high esteem as a festival for the
unification of the Yorubas.

6. Osun-Osogbo Festival: Osun-Osogbo Festival is an annual

festival celebrated in Osogbo, Osun State in honour of Osun, a river goddess and an
important deity in Yoruba land. The festival takes place at the Osun-Osogbo Sacred
Grove, a sacred forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. The festival
holds in the month of August for two weeks. The people of Osogbo see the month of
August as the month of celebration, traditional cleansing of the city, and a cultural
reunion with their ancestors. The festival celebration includes activities like
“Iwopopo” which is the traditional cleansing of Osogbo town, three days lightening
of the “Ina Olojumerindinlogun” which is a five hundred years sixteen-point lamp,
and the 'Ibroriade' which is the assembling of all the crowns of all the past kings of
Osogbo. The Osun-Osogbo festival celebration is led by the sitting king of Osogbo, a
chosen chaste lady known as the Arugba, the Yeye Osun, and a committee of
Priestesses. The annual celebration of the Osun-Osogbo festival attracts thousands of
Osun Worshipers, tourists, and spectators from around world.

7. Oro Festival: Oro Festival is a festival celebrated in almost all Yoruba

settlements and towns in Nigeria. The festival is an annual one with only male
descendants of the paternal natives of the town where the festival is taking place.
During the Oro festival, non-natives and females stay indoors because history claims
that it is a taboo for a woman or anyone who is not allowed to participate in the
festival to see the Oro. The way the festival is celebrated differs from town to town.
The Oro festival is also performed after the demise of a Yoruba monarch.

8. Sango Festival: Sango Festival is a Yoruba festival which holds every

year in honour of Sango, the god of thunder and fire. Sango was the third king of the
ancient Oyo Kingdom and a warlord. It is believed that the boundaries of the
present-day Oyo State were founded by Sango. The festival was re-branded and
renamed as World Sango festival by Oyo State government in 2013. The festival
takes place every year in the month of August at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo's
palace. The festival runs for a week and it attracts more than twenty thousand
spectators from around the world. Most especially from Brazil, the Caribbean, Cuba,
and Trinidad and Tobago. The world Sango Festival is recognized by UNESCO as a
cultural and tourism event of thousands of Yorubas living in diaspora and other
tourists visit Oyo State yearly for the celebration of the festival. The festival is also
celebrated in more than forty countries all over the world.

EMBLEMS OF LAGOS STATE:

The Lagos State logo, also known as the Lagos State coat of arms is the official
representation of the State’s Authority and Seal of the Government.

The logo was designed on May 24, 1967, and boasts a unique artistic design and
features with historic and significant interpretations.
The logo has the following features:

Cowries: The cowries speak of the olden past, cowries were previously
used as currency before the emergence of coins and notes.

Three Lines: The three lines dividing the shields signify the past,
present, and the future of Lagos State. The brownish-gold background under the
cowries signifies the color of the foreshore sands that are found in all the
divisions of Lagos State.

Motto: The motto of Lagos State is “Justice and Progress”.

Fishing Activity: The fishing activities speak of the traditional

occupation of the earliest settlers in Lagos.

Wheel: The wheel on the logo is said to be the representation of the State’s
status as the industrial hub of Nigeria 🇳🇬 while the red background indicates
power generation.

White Cap: The white cap “keresimesi” depicts authority.

Akoko Leaves: The “akoko leaves” which are rightfully placed at the
base of the white cap depict longevity.

Coconut Palm: The coconut palm trees indicate the main agricultural
produce of Lagos State
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