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When you think of Lagos, you probably imagine yellow danfo buses, high-rise buildings in Victoria Island, or the never-ending hustle of Balogun Market. But beneath the tech-driven chaos and nightlife glam, Lagos is still very much a city of traditions—some of which are so bizarre and unbelievable, they could pass for urban legends. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

From ancestral masquerade laws to taboo days where businesses shut down, these practices are living proof that Lagos is more than a megacity—it’s a spiritual and cultural powerhouse.

Let’s take you through some of the most jaw-dropping traditions in Lagos that are still alive today.
⚰️ 1. Oro Festival – When Women Must Stay Indoors

The Oro Festival, mainly practiced in Ikorodu, Epe, and parts of Lagos Mainland, is a deeply spiritual Yoruba tradition involving the movement of the Oro deity—a masked ancestral spirit. During this festival:

All women and non-indigenes are prohibited from stepping outside at night, sometimes even during the day.

The Oro spirit is said to punish anyone who disobeys.

Its whistling sound is believed to be a spiritual signal that mortals must avoid.

💡 Fact: In June 2023, multiple communities in Ikorodu shut down completely for Oro, sparking social media debates between modern life and cultural heritage.
🩸 2. Kaka (Scarification) Ceremonies in Egun & Awori Areas

Though now fading, some remote Egun and Awori communities in Badagry and Ojo still preserve the tradition of facial scarification or body markings for identity, protection, or spiritual initiation.

Marks are cut using razor blades during rituals.

They symbolize lineage, protection from spiritual attacks, or transition into adulthood.

Outsiders are often shocked when they witness a child undergoing the ceremony today.

📍 Where: Some Egun villages in Ajara, Badagry still perform symbolic ceremonies today.
🧙🏽‍♂️ 3. Spirit Marriage (Wife of the River) in Epe Lagoon

In certain Ijebu-Lagos settlements like Epe, it’s believed that some families have spiritual ties with river deities. A daughter may be dedicated as a “river wife”, forbidden to marry a human without ritual separation.

These women wear white, avoid spicy food, or can’t marry outside the town.

The practice stems from ancestral pacts for wealth or protection.

If broken, it’s believed calamity will follow.

💡 Unbelievable but true: Some Lagosians still consult the “Olokun priestess” before marriage to ensure they aren’t unknowingly bonded to a water spirit.
📵 4. Market Closure Days Set by Deities

In parts of Isale Eko and Lagos Island, certain markets (like Oke Arin or Idumota) still observe sacred “no-trade” days, especially during ancestral festivals.

No buying or selling is allowed—shops close voluntarily.

It’s believed trading on such days may lead to sudden loss or spiritual attacks.

These days are set by local priests and respected by even top merchants.

📍 Modern irony: Some traders will go to church and still honor the gods when it’s time.
👹 5. Masquerade Wars of Eyo vs Egungun in Lagos Island

The famed Eyo Festival (white-clad masquerade of Lagos Island) and Egungun (ancestral spirits from the mainland) are part of an ongoing cultural rivalry.

Eyo is elite, regal, and associated with Obas and elite burials.

Egungun is grassroots, dramatic, and fierce—sometimes leading to street clashes.

Both are forbidden from appearing on the same day in central Lagos.

💡 Truth Stranger Than Fiction: In 2018, a near-clash between Egungun from Agege and Eyo masqueraders during an Oba’s burial required police intervention.
📿 6. Naming Ceremonies Where Babies Choose Their Names

Among certain Ijebu and Awori Lagosians, some families still practice a ritual where newborns choose their own names through divination (Ifá or cowrie reading).

A priest presents name options and asks the child spiritually.

The name the oracle confirms is accepted—even if unusual.

Some believe the child’s destiny is tied to this name.

💡 Fact: It’s not uncommon to meet Lagosians with deeply spiritual names like Ifágbèmì or Ògúnsìnáyọ rooted in this process.
🎭 7. Secret Cults and Oath-Taking in Land Ownership

In Lagos’ deeply political land-owning clans (especially in places like Eti-Osa, Ojo, Ibeju-Lekki), tradition still dictates that new chiefs, landowners, or “Omo Oniles” must take ancestral oaths in shrines.

Some use tortoise blood, ancient relics, or even human skulls as part of the rite.

Failure to participate may result in spiritual rejection or land loss.

Some of these cults are over 400 years old and not recognized by law—but still respected by locals.

🧠 Why These Traditions Still Matter

Despite being Nigeria’s most urbanized state, Lagos remains a city built on deep-rooted tradition. These rituals:

Preserve identity in an ever-changing city

Offer insight into ancestral wisdom

Challenge outsiders to rethink what Lagos truly is: a fusion of modern hustle and ancient heartbeat

https://eyesoflagos.com/2025/06/24/unbelievable-traditions-in-lagos-you-probably-never-knew-existed/

Similar thread https://www.nairaland.com/2535848/7-strange-traditions-nigeria-probably

Nawaoo..!!






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Please take a moment to write a quality post with at least 40 characters.

From ancestral masquerade laws to taboo days where businesses shut do

I know all these............................................................................. Not new to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Lagos is Ibo land. It was founded by Nri after he migrated from Israel

Interesting this iskinda new sha





Where do they do these?

Lagos is filled with all manner of idols masquerading as culture and traditions!
Come to Agege, Ikotun, Egbeda, and Ijagun you'll find shrines and see youths with Cain running after masquerades, flogging people for money.

Am sure some of the people here will come and comment about how barbaric such customs are.

But then, there are many countries like Japan, South Korea, even scandinavian countries, and Estonia where such pagan beliefs are common place. I have not even mentioned India....sent a spaceship to Mars, and in the country, there are shrines to all sorts of Gods.

I am a christian, and I probably would not believe in such religions, but they are not why we are backward. We are backward because we think we have enough resources to sell. Instead of using them to make stuff the world needs. We are not backward because someone worships a god

no be small thing, looks like nairaland has change rule for length of comment

Just woooow


Learning something new daily
Lag for show

Some people say it's no man's land. But when you ask them to show you their ancestral family house, they will point towards Enugu

Abeg, make everybody part well joor.

Na who no like him papa house dey claim Lagos is "no man's land".

Lagos, get owner.
If you enter Ipodo area for Ikeja, look closely and you see shrine by the road.

If you enter Bariga well beside this lodging owned by Anglican, there is a Traditional Forest.

Abeg make dem leave matter for Matthias.

I read all this.

WOW. It's interesting to respect customs and traditions but I have a problem when these traditions are being forced on people.

The masquerade in Nigeria na flogging of people

Why is that not banned?

Harassment of individuals.


Imagine I had guns

There are many people in Lagos who are not originally Lagosians but claim Lagos as their home just because they have lost their homes.

Must of this traditions are wack, at some point am happy civilization came into this country if not we might still be living like cannibals although some culture and traditions needs to be reintroduce back to our societies.

Wetin Kwansign me?

Make una carry una smelly Lagos dey go abeg

God bless Lagos!

God continue to bless YORUBALAND!

Amen!

eyesoflagos:
https://eyesoflagos.com/2025/06/24/unbelievable-traditions-in-lagos-you-probably-never-knew-existed/

Similar thread https://www.nairaland.com/2535848/7-strange-traditions-nigeria-probably

let the ndi Lagos is no man’s land continue making noise on the internet……they say dog wey won lost no Dey hear sound of hunter whistle,btw proudly Lagos

That facial scarification is gradually going extinct in Yoruba land

You can only practise your oro festival in rural areas of Lagos state like ikorodu, ebute metta, etc you can't bring your oro festival to Oshodi, Ikeja, VI, etc

oluwaseunamos33:
I know all these............................................................................. Not new to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

best way to observe 40 characters 😂😂😂


12 more characters needed

They are all political tools in the hands of politicians, as i write this.

Oro is used to cordon off places, where election rigging is required.

They are all bastardized and have empty contents now.

As untraditional as you might say that SE is , they don't mix tradition with politics

Police had to separate the gods

True true, Lagos na wa

Backwards traditions





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Please take a moment to write a quality post with at least 40 characters.
This will make the forum more interesting for everyone.

Our neighbours across the river Niger can't relate

Ikaeniyan0:
Lagos is Ibo land. It was founded by Nri after he migrated from Israel

Yes ! I remember when Nri first landed in Badagry from Jerusalem. He went straight to Onitsha through River Niger to buy slaves that he moved to Badagry to be exported to Jordan.
A whole cargo ship of slaves from ibo lands were set to be moved to Jordan.
Almost about 2000 of them in chains escaped and settled in Eko and started doing fishing to sustain life.
That is why till date you hear the names..: Mercauly, Igwesanjo, Ogbuka, Cadoso, Lawson etc.
You are right o.

please2234556:
best way to observe 40 characters 😂😂😂


12 more characters needed

..bshshsbsbshsjsjsbsjsksbsbsjsjsbsbshshshs😄😄😄😄

Eyo is originally from Ogun state.

The indigenous masquerade of Aworis and Egun is Zangbeto or Sangbeto.

Egungun or Eegun is just a general name for Masquerades in Yoruba languages.

Eyo masquerades used to fight themselves in the past. The reason for the fight is usually hierarchy. For example Eyo Ologede and Eyo Oniko groups after the festival and are returning to their igas (shrines) and they happen to cross paths, the less superior one is supposed to drop its opan’bata (palm wood) and bow to the superior one, if this doesn’t happen, the more superior Eyo may try to enforce a bow from the less superior one which often times result in deadly fights where both groups may result in using arms and causing serious injuries to each other.

This story was narrated to me by my Mom and Aunts back when I was young. It happened in their teenage years when they were living in Isale Eko back in the 60s/70s.

Interesting thread to read. Kudos to the thread creator.

However, there are also Egungun on the Island too. I also know several family on the island (Isale Eko) that their family religion is Egungun.

Last picture in frame are the Awori, Egun, Ijebu, Egba, and Yewa Obas from all over Lagos in a group picture after a meeting with the Governor.