In Africa, tradition is held tightly to the breast. It’s a sacrament of duty to the gods and goddesses of the land that often answer to the Supreme Deity. To the Yoruba tribe, he is Eledumare or, Olorun or Orisa Oke or Eleda. This cognomen of our Creator varies from place to place.
Ololu Masquerade ( Egungun Ololu) is a very powerful one. To the people of Ibadan, among masquerades ( ARA-ORUN), OLOLU is a MYSTERY. This understanding is deeply penetrated in the history of Ibadan for the roles ( highly significant) , Ololu played. Today is both feared and respected ; revered and honoured for his mystic powers and influence. Nobody dares him or flunct his rules.
Few days ago, it was made public that Ololu would be celebrating the Annual Egungun Festival. The public were warned never to take his photographs or make videos of him whenever he came out. This public announcement was widely shared especially on social media space. Some see it as irrelevant and unimportant, but many believe it is a scared rule that must be strictly adhere to.
However, for Wasila, this warning fell on a deaf ears. She was curious to cash out with the masquerade on social media especially Tiktok. She secretly made the video of the masquerade already forbidden and posted it but unaware by the custodians of Ololu masquerade .
Wasila later began to menstruate countinously ever since then. While she was in great agony, she cried out and was brought before Ololu masquerade where she confessed her defiance, and subsequently pleaded for mercy and rescue.
This appeasement becomes necessary to put an end to her agony and prevent her from dying in seven (7) days.
She was made to appease the god especially Ololu. After various appeasement, her hair was shaved too while prayers were also offered by different traditionalists to ward off evils and spells hanging on hier head.
The Isese adherents pointedly used the opportunity to emphasis the relevance of the traditional beliefs handed down by the Yoruba ancestors to their younger generations. Indeed, the fact that ” IDALU NI SELU ” was also echoed as Ololu masquerade often comes out with the permission of Olubadan and never on his own volition….
Aboderin is the Osun NUJ Chairman, He writes from Osogbo