00:00Nigeria is a land rich in culture and tradition, once alive with vibrant festivals echoing through towns and villages.
00:11From the masquerade parades of the East to horse-riding Dobbers of the North and the coastal rituals of the South,
00:20every region had its unique celebrations, but over time, urbanization, religion, and modernization have caused many of these once-beloved festivities to fade.
00:35In the West, festivals still stand as symbols of Yoruba heritage.
00:41The Oshu-Oshogo Festival in Oshogo, Oshu State, celebrates Oshu, the goddess of fertility and water,
00:50Devotees and visitors make a procession to the Oshu sacred groove with ritual offerings and traditional dances.
00:59In Lagos Island, the Eyo Festival is a masquerade event held in honor of a deceased king or notable person.
01:08White-robed Eyo masquerades parade the street, a spectacle seen as a precursor to modern Lagos carnivals.
01:19In Ijabode, Ogun State, the Ojudioba Festival has grown from a Muslim celebration into a massive cultural event where eight great groups pay homage to the Awujale of Ijabuland with horse-riding, music, and colorful attire.
01:38In Iguora and Ishara Oya State, the Odun-Ibeji, or Festival of Twins, honours twins, believed to bring blessings and spiritual power.
01:51Twins appear in marching outfits, drums, and dances fill the air, and ritual offerings are made alongside displays of Ibeji statues.
02:03Across Yoruba cities like Oyo and Ibadan, the Ogungu Festival honours a sensual spirit, masked dancers in vibrant costumes performed to drums and chant, believed to be the ascensors returning to bless and guide the living.
02:23In the East, many traditional rites are now rare.
02:27The Okonko Festival, once a secret male society event with masquerade and initiation rite, has faded with Christianity and modern views.
02:39The Igweji facial scarification of title men, once a mark of honour, is largely abandoned over health concerns and changing attitudes.
02:50The Iria ceremony, a coming of age rites for girls, has been reduced or discontinued as it is seen as incompatible with modern values.
03:01The elaborate Ikwaozu barrier rites for titled elders have been simplified under the pressure of high caste and religious influence, even the Uzuru Ta Festival, a hunter's celebration of bravery and success, is rare today as hunting culture declines.
03:22In the North, some grand spectacles still survive.
03:26Kirby State Al-Gugu Fishing Festival remains an international attraction.
03:32The Darba Festival, especially in Kano and Katsina, features magnificent horse parades to celebrate Islamic festivities like Eidi.
03:43In Fulani communities, the Sharo Festival once marked a rite of passage through tests of endurance.
03:52Kano State Ghani Festival, held at Idyu Malud, showcases traditional music, costumes and horse displays.
04:01In Bakshi State, the Awawawan Dushé Festival of the Tsar people, features vibrant masquerades, dances and music tied to harvest and communal bonding.
04:15Though many of these festivals have dwindled or disappeared, they remain asked in Nigeria's cultural memory, silent echoes of a time when communities danced, drummed and celebrated together.
04:31Remembering them is not mere nostalgia.
04:34It is honoring the heritage that shifts the nation's diverse identity.
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