EYO Was Stolen From The People Of Iperu Remo (Pakerike)

Eyo also known as Adamu Orisha is a group of costumed dancers originating from Iperu Remo in Ogun State which has its source in Iga Eyo Pakerike.

Iperu Remo is the source; cradle and originator of Eyo in Nigeria. There are five different branches of Iga Eyo in Iperu Akesan; they include; Iga Pakerike which is Symbolised by the red cap of Eyo; Iga Agbonmagbe which is Symbolised by the blue cap of Eyo; Iga Eyo ODORU; Iga Eyo Mogusen/ Amororo and Iga Eyo Fibigbuwa.
The main source of Eyo in Iperu is the Iga Eyo Pakerike and the other four are the Iperu Royal Houses.

It came down to Lagos State after one of the Iperu maidens married a Lagos Prince and the Adamu Orisha was part of her Entourage and never left Lagos State after it spent a night in Lagos which shows that Eyo Was Stolen from the People of Iperu Remo in Ogun State by Lagosians

The Eyo is held after the death of a king or a highly ranked chief and also to usher in a new king but it has become a widely known festival that occurs yearly.

In modern-day times, Eyo is also held in honor of politicians especially a governor or a political leader at their request. This explains their attendance at Governor Dapo Abiodun's swearing-in who is from one of the Royal Households that Eyo has its source from in Iperu Remo. This also proves Dapo Abiodun is a true son of Iperu Land by the turn-up of the Eyo during his swearing-in.

The Eyo festival begins with the senior one out of the Eyo groups called the "Adamu Orisha"  identified by his black hat coming out to announce the set date for the festival which comes up a week after and the groups called the Laba, Oniko, Ologede, and Agere comes out consecutively.

On the eve of the festival, there is merrymaking at the oba's palace in which the oba gives his blessings.

This is closely followed by the erection of the para erected by the Laba group and inspected by the Adimu which symbolizes the beginning of the festival.
Eyo with his beautiful attire comprising of white regalia, aropole, the bottom wrap around, akete, a hat with ribbons that symbolizes the group they belong to, a transparent facial cover called iboju and a staff made of palm fronds with inscriptions on it called Opambata all to assemble at the sounds of Gbedu and Koranga drums which are only used during the festival.

Baba Ijebu a true son of Iperu Land

A procession occurs from the enu owu where the para is located to the oba's palace to pay obeisance before moving out to the street and finally to tafewa balewa square where the fun begins fully.

The Eyo displays different acrobatic skills with singing, dancing, and chanting which makes the festival more colorful and entertaining.
An important thing to note during the festival is that any form of motorcycling, women with a particular kind of hairstyle called Suku, walking with shoes on, and smoking are highly prohibited to avoid the Eyo from beating with their sticks.

At the end of the festival, the Eyo moves to the para in the enu owu to destroy it and this symbolizes the end of the festival.

                                                   Son of the soil