₦airaland Forum

Olopa Caretta - Road closed.

Float.

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St Gregory's College.

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VIP entrance: Burly men in black suits ensured that only those with invitation cards entered the arena through this entrance.

VIP stands (sponsored by First Bank) were erected at strategic locations across the island. Burly men in black suits were also on guard @ these locations.

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Campos green and gold

ifyalways: ^Stop giving pastors your "tights",they need your pantyhose instead.

Mobile toilets on Awolowo Rd.

The only hitch I noticed occurred when one of the sponsors started distributing souvenirs to participants. Some members of the public jumped down from the stands, broke through the barrier and got onto the arena floor. The stewards (Olopa Caretta or Caretta police) chased them back.

Two RRS policemen (robocop) were later stationed at that point to prevent any breach.

However, after the governor arrived, the gates were opened and members of the public were allowed to join the participants on the arena floor.

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TBS

Tafawa Balewa Square.

Queuing to get into the TBS @ the Catholic Mission Street entrances. I wonder how they would feel if they knew that there were no queues at the Tafawa Balewa Square Road entrances.

I wish this was a video clip. That little kid can dance!

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Mounted police

Fire service on standby

Efik?

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The Dragon

Roller skates. I was wondering why, over the past few weeks, I kept seeing a lot of secondary school aged people on roller skates. I guess they were practising for the carnival.

Security escorting the governor.

The Governor walking into the arena (he is wearing a blue shirt and blue face-cap and waving at the crowd). He walked in through the regular gate. The crowd surged towards him and it was quite difficult for security to keep them back.

Food and drinks stop in front of City Hall.

Double decker bus

Pics

Defence Headquarters (Giwa) Signals Barracks, Kingsway Rd Ikoyi, one of the take-off points.

Gelede

Gelede is an annual festival honouring “our mothers” (awon iya wa), not so much for their motherhood, but as female elders. It takes place when the dry season ends (March–May) among the Yoruba people of south-west Nigeria and neighbouring southeast Benin.

The celebration is recognizing the power and spiritual capacity women have in society. The performances are given by men, wearing masks that feature sculpted images on it, These scenes can be of animals and people or sewing machines and drums. The mask is one of a pair worn together by men masquerading as women to amuse, please and placate the mothers who are considered very powerful, and whom may use their powers for good or destructive purposes. These powers are especially linked to childbirth. The abilities they possess may be activated either consciously or unconsciously. Because of the Gelede performance, the community as a whole can acknowledge the power held by women.[1]

The Gelede ceremony involves carefully choreographed dance, singing and music, and especially drumming. Dozens of masquerading pairs may take part. The daytime festival is held in the marketplace, and is preceded the night before by an Efe ceremony at which male masks are used by ‘jesters’ who make satirical performances including social comment.

Gelede probably originated in the late 18th or early 19th century. It may be associated with the change from a matriarchal to a patriarchal society, but then one might expect it to have older beginnings.

The Gelede ceremony may also take place at the funerals of cult members or in times of drought or other serious situations which are thought to have been brought about by malevolent witchcraft.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelede

MTN float