Eyo Festival Returns After Eight Years, Benson-Awoyinka Hails Event as Symbol of Lagos Heritage

Eyo Festival Returns After Eight Years, Benson-Awoyinka Hails Event as Symbol of Lagos Heritage

The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, has described the Eyo Festival as the cultural equivalent of Christmas in Lagos State, highlighting its significance to the heritage and identity of indigenous Lagosians.

Benson-Awoyinka made the remark at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Victoria Island, during the Adamu Orisha Play, popularly known as the Eyo Festival, which returned after an eight-year hiatus.

According to the commissioner, the festival, which dates back over 300 years, remains a powerful symbol of Lagos culture and unity, noting that its absence only renewed public desire for its revival.

“The Eyo Festival is our Christmas. It is a heritage celebration of over 300 years. Though it was long overdue, the break helped rekindle people’s passion for preserving our culture,” she said.

She expressed satisfaction with the massive turnout recorded at the event and noted that the celebration was peaceful and incident-free, reflecting the discipline and cultural consciousness of Lagos residents.

“The turnout was impressive, and we recorded no casualties. This shows the peaceful spirit of the people of Lagos State,” Benson-Awoyinka added.

Also present at the event was the Chairman of Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area, Hon. Olufemi Odunayo, who commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for restoring and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Lagos State.

Odunayo described the return of the Eyo Festival as a significant step in safeguarding indigenous traditions, noting that the President’s commitment to cultural preservation has helped revive long-standing heritage festivals across the state.

Adding their voices, the Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Hon. Sesan Olowa, and Princess Animashahun of Epe Local Government applauded the successful return of the festival and called for it to be celebrated annually.

They noted that institutionalising the Eyo Festival as an annual event would attract more local and international tourists, stimulate economic activities, create employment opportunities, and boost internally generated revenue for Lagos State.

“This festival has the capacity to become a major tourism attraction if sustained yearly. It will further position Lagos as a global cultural and tourism destination,” they said.

Nollywood actor Mr. Wale Ojo also described the Eyo Festival as a world-class cultural event, revealing that some of his friends from Mexico attended the celebration, underscoring its growing international appeal.

While commending the organisers, Ojo urged that security and orderliness be sustained to ensure the festival remains peaceful and free from hoodlums, stressing that safety remains critical to attracting tourists.

Stakeholders agreed that the successful return of the Eyo Festival signals renewed commitment by Lagos State to cultural preservation, tourism development, and sustainable economic growth.