Oro Festival

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Oro Festival is an event celebrated by towns and settlements of Yoruba origin. It is an annual traditional festival that is of patriarchal nature, as it is only celebrated by male descendants who are paternal natives to the specific locations where the particular event is taking place.[1][2] It worships the god/orisha, Orò, the Yoruba deity of bullroarers and justice. During the festival, females and non-natives stay indoors as oral history has it that Oro must not be seen by women and non-participating people.[3][4] The ceremonies surrounding the celebration of Oro differs from town to town, and one is often called after the death of a monarch.[5] When the Oba dies, a special atonement and period of mourning are held.  It usually involves human sacrifice that has been refuted vehemently by the followers.[6]

Oro is usually concealed except during the festivity it appears. Oro makes an entrance by making highpitched swishing sounds . This whirring sound is said not made by the wife called Majowu.[7]

It is said that Oro makes an appearance wearing a robe with shells and adorns a white wooden mask with blood smeared on the lips. It passe. Its followers eulogise it by making incantations in loud voices.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ Josiah Oluwole (31 July 2015). "Ooni: Ife Declares Oro Festival". Premium Times. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  2. ^ "A peep into the secret Oro festival in Yorubaland". Vanguard News. 2019-02-18. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  3. ^ Research Directorate, Immigration & Refugee Board, Canada (26 September 2000). "Nigeria: Oro festival including the role of the Oro priest and whether, or not, he or she is masked; whether there are any penalties invoked against those who observe the priest performing his rituals". Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Wetin be Oro festival wey women no fit 'show face outside' at all". BBC News Pidgin. 2021-05-31. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  5. ^ Tunji Omofoye (1 August 2015). "Traditionalists Hold Oro Festival In Ile-Ife". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Ile-Ife: Anxiety mounts, women remain indoors as Oro festival enters second day | Premium Times Nigeria". 2015-08-01. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  7. ^ "Yoruba festival that are anti women". The Guardian.
  8. ^ "Oro: A Yoruba Festival That Is Anti-Women". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2018-05-07. Retrieved 2021-08-31.


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