Olubadan Cautions Egungun Festival Participants to Shun Violent Behavior

The Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has issued a stern warning to masquerades and their followers, cautioning them against engaging in violent behavior during and after the upcoming Egungun Festival, which commences on Monday.

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The festival, a revered Yoruba celebration in the South-West, is a time-honored tradition that pays tribute to ancestral spirits, and is characterized by participants donning elaborate, colorful masks, accompanied by drumming and dancing, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

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Ladoja, through his media aide, Chief Adeola Oloko, stated on Sunday in Ibadan that any form of violent conduct would be met with severe punishment under the law, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and order.

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The Olubadan emphasized that the Egungun festival is not an opportunity to settle old scores, engage in supremacy contests, or carry out retaliatory attacks between masquerades and their opponents, but rather a celebration of Ibadan customs and traditions.

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According to Ladoja, the festival is an annual ritual that has been observed for centuries, dedicated to celebrating the evolution of society, social cohesion, family unity, and solidarity through the offering of sacrifices, and is a time for reflection on the community's history.

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He described the festival as a worthy celebration, marked by drum beats, dance, and merriment, and assured that all necessary arrangements have been made by the palace to ensure a hitch-free 2026 Ibadan Egungun festival.

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Ladoja urged residents to cooperate with law enforcement agents to maintain a peaceful atmosphere during the celebration, and warned masquerades and their followers to adhere to the designated time and boundaries set by the law-enforcement agents.