EGUNGUN festival occupies an important place in the socio-cultural life of Okemesi-Ekiti. It’s a festival that brings all the segments of the society together. It also re-unites the living with the dead.

The general belief is that Egungun represents the spirit of the ancestors, thus the celebration involves some sacrifice to appease dieties. Oladunwo is the major cultural festival highly celebrated in Okemesi-Ekiti and its environs. The festival is an age-long celebration of the brave people of Okemesi, which promotes love and peace among the indigenes.

The masquerade is generally believed by people of Okemesi to have saved and protected them during the Yoruba internecine wars especially the Ekiti Parapo war which liberated the Ekitis from the rulership of the Ibadan (1877-1996)

Location and origin

Okemesi has its origin from lle-Ife, the ancient seat and ancestral home of the Yoruba race. From historical records, there is blood relationship between Okemesi, Ile-Ife and Ilesa. Okemesi is in the South-West of Nigeria, located within the tropical hinter-land in the rain forest area.

The town forms a conglomerate of (undulating) valley and low lands which made it to enjoy a unique environment. At the periphery of the low lands are soil deposits. Low lands have rich fertile soil which is good for agriculture. Masquerades festival, in Okemesi are Ladunwo, Ale baale, Yoyo, Alamuye, Alukudi, Ehinle and others.

Oladunwo Masquerade

Of all the traditions and celebrations in Ekiti land concerning the masquerade society, Oladunwo masquerade celebration is mostly revered.

Historically, it was related that when the enemy group wanted to attack Okemesi town, the people ran to Oke Agbonna for safety. It was in the night proceeding Oladunwo celebration that the normal music and traditional renditions of the masquerade members drove the enemies away. Many enemies got scared because they thought that the Okemesi army had prepared for them. This festival is to communicate the victory Oladunwo got for the people.

The festival takes place every two years as a special celebration whereby two types of masquerades come out as husband and wife from the spirit land. Every other masquerade recognises Oladunwo as their father and king.

As the Oladunwo moves from the (Igbale) groove to the king’s palace and back to the groove, the entire town is purified from sudden death and diseases while the town’s enemies are rendered impotent. It’s a unique appearance in immaculate white and slim feature signifying the aura of spirituality.

Preparation for the festival

It must be noticed that there are two major Egungun grooves called Igbo Igbale in Okemesi. One is at Okerena and the other at Ijana. It’s at the groove that all the preliminary activities preceding the Egungun festival commence. The Oja groove has some special masquerades that must come out before the festival commences in full.

Oladunwo costumes are different, so, the preparation is done by trained spiritualist in the Egungun cult. The difficulty in the preparation of its costumes and traditional rites varies from one appearance to the other.

For instance, the effigy that is used this year may refuse to come out in the next appearance etc. This is based on traditional rites of the Egungun cult.

The costume is the most important part of the Ladunwo masquerade, which is not only expensive but delicately awesome. The beautiful but fragile and fearful look of Ladunwo makes people refer to it as human ghost.

The dress is purely white, decorated with many fashionable and expensive items such as golden and silver bracelet, beads (Iyen) etc and two swords with which he dances back to the groove. The most important and fashionable part is the head, which is a caned mask with highly spiritual significance.

The celebration

It’s a two-day event. On the day preceding the celebration, cleanliness of the town and sanitation is observed. There is also an awareness carnival by the youths of the community. The whole community gathers at Ekiti-parapo resort centre where bean cake is freely shared.

Later in the day, non-indigenes and women will go back to their residence to listen to what will happen at midnight. This is the time Ope, the masquerade chief will invite Oladunwo masquerade from ‘heaven to earth’ for the celebration to start.

Non-indigenes and women are not allowed to come out but they can only listen to the sound (because of the spiritual rites to be performed).

On the day of the masquerade display, there is a sacrifice round the town. Non-indigenes and women are not allowed to come out till 10am when they hear the traditional drums by the masquerade chiefs. The traditional drum is called poro.

At around 10.30am in the morning, everybody including women and visitors are free to come out to see youth carnivals and different masquerades dancing at the Owa Ooye’s palace for the grand finale.

Later, Oladunwo masquerade will descend from the groove called Igbale to the Oba’s palace in company of the masquerade chiefs. When he is descending he is in velvet (Aran) and actually stays under Odan tree in front of Owa Ooye’s palace.

Highlights of the grand finale include recognition of the dignitaries (important indigenes of the town); speech presentation by the Oowa Ooye; and display by other masquerades.