Lagos community announces Oro festival for May 16 as female residents warned to stay indoors

This year’s edition of the annual traditional ‘Oro’ festival, typically held in Ikorodu, Lagos State, is scheduled for May 16, 2024, both during the day and at night.
This was disclosed in a letter issued by the Ayangburen Palace and signed by the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, a copy of which was sighted by Punch Online, on Sunday.
The letter, dated April 16, 2024, was addressed to the Medical Director of the Ikorodu General Hospital.
The letter, titled ‘Notification of Magbo (Oro) Festival 2024,’ read, “This is to notify you of the above festival, which is slated for Thursday, May 16, 2024.

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“According to tradition, all females are advised to remain in their respective homes and avoid moving around the town during the Oro festival.
“Please note that your organisation is affected by falling within the Oro traditional jurisdictions. You are hereby advised to adhere to the traditions of the town.”

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It’s celebrated by male descendants and usually characterised by a daytime procession and high-pitched sounds in some areas or across the community as the case may be.
It is believed that females must not be present during the ritual rites of the festival.

The state’s Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho and the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, did not take their calls when our correspondent called to get their reaction on Sunday.
They were also yet to respond to the text messages sent to them as time of filing this report.