This photograph was captured during the 2025 Eyo Festival after hours of walking through the historic streets of Isale Eko. The experience was as demanding as it was unforgettable. The energy of the festival was contagious—drums echoed through the streets, white-robed masquerades filled every corner, and the vibrant colours of their wide-brimmed hats transformed the […]
This photograph was captured during the 2025 Eyo Festival after hours of walking through the historic streets of Isale Eko. The experience was as demanding as it was unforgettable. The energy of the festival was contagious—drums echoed through the streets, white-robed masquerades filled every corner, and the vibrant colours of their wide-brimmed hats transformed the streets of Idumota, Lagos into a moving spectacle of culture and history. Like many first-time visitors, I briefly forgot to remove my face cap in the presence of a possession of a troop of Eyp and was promptly struck at my back with the opambata, I took it as a reminder that Eyo is not merely a performance but a tradition governed by customs that command respect.
As I continued the long procession towards Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), I witnessed moments where ritual, celebration, and everyday life became inseparable. This photograph is one of those moments. Rather than focusing solely on the grandeur of the masquerade, it reflects how Eyo exists within the fabric of Lagos, where ancient tradition unfolds alongside ordinary life. Through this image, I hope viewers experience not only the visual beauty of the festival but also its deeper role as a living expression of memory, identity, and the enduring spirit of Lagos
