Rebirth of Cultural Diversity at the Lagos Cultural Extravaganza

Yinka Olatunbosun

Agege Stadium in the densely populated Lagos mainland neighbourhood was recently abuzz with activities that had nothing to do with sports. Rather, the activities swirled around two Sato drums positioned at the centre of the football pitch. These towering drums, dating back to 1543, were said to have roots in Badagry among the Ogu people. Considered religious emblems, the pair drum is said to represent male and female, with the wider one considered the male.

Sato drums have been ascribed deep cultural significance, alluding to traditional matrimony. Customarily, the drums were said to belong to the king and were beaten for him on special occasions and to announce the assent of the new moon. Due to its link with royalty, Sato is a symbol of authority and power deployed to maintain peace and social order in the community. Its performance is considered both spiritual and physical, as it is believed to bring prosperity, good fortune, and fertility.

It was no surprise then to see the drums at the Lagos Cultural Extravaganza, a day set aside to celebrate the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, at the gubernatorial election of March 18 and to strengthen unity through a display of cultural diversity.

Masquerades of different kinds arrived at the packed venue just as the surround speakers boomed with party music. Setting the tone for the day, the opening act, Adulade Ado, delivered a Yoruba oral poetry performance. The morning programme stretched into the afternoon as the audience witnessed scintillating cultural performances, magical displays, dance and music, and the exhibition of artefacts drawn from the five administrative divisions of Lagos State, that is, the IBILE: Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe.

The Chairman, Second Term Inauguration Committee for Lagos State, Mr. Tayo Akinmade Ayinde, described culture as the aggregation of both the tangible and intangible heritage of a people that gives them a distinctive identity.

“It is no-gainsaying that in the contemporary world, the celebration of the culture of a people has become a major tourism product in the global tourism market, with the number of outbound tourists engaged in culture-related activities in destinations across the globe accounting for over 40% of international arrivals,” he pointed out.

Other masquerades at the cultural display include Zangbeto, the terrestrial deity and sea spirit, and Kori, a women’s masquerade seen in the riverine area of Lagos. It involves the use of calabashes decorated with toys and things that represent childbearing carried by women.

 The Egungun masquerade, which represents the spiritual and earthly forms of dead relatives and is a symbol of peace, blessings, protection, and fertility, was also part of the cultural procession. One of the last masquerades to be seen was Eyo Agere, famed for walking on stilts and considered one of the five most senior of the many Eyo groups.

Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, who is the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the second term inauguration ceremonies, assured Lagosians of the future cultural interventions that are in the pipeline.

“It is important for us to show the unity in diversity of Lagos; to show the spirit of Lagos and the diverse culture of Lagos,” he said. “Mr. Sanwo-Olu has done a lot in the arts, culture, and tourism. He has shown Lagosians that we are not joking with it. We are building a space that will be a place for all our children to exhibit their skills. Various people are being trained to hold their own in the areas of filmmaking, scriptwriting, and other areas of the creative industry, and they are being trained free of charge. A big tourism place is being developed in Badagry too.”

Although the Lagos state governor and his deputy were absent from the ceremony, their wives, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-olu and Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, were both present at the event and waved at the audience before taking their seats in the auditorium.