Why TikToker who filmed Oloolu festival was spiritually cleansed — Family secretary

n n

The Secretary of the Oloolu compound in Ibadan, Oyo State, Oluwo Ishola Akeem, has explained the circumstances that led to the spiritual cleansing of TikToker Wasilat Olalere after she recorded activities during the annual Oloolu masquerade festival.

n

Akeem spoke in Yoruba during an interview conducted by an African culture platform, Surprise Entertainment, at the Oloolu family compound on Monday.

n

His explanation comes days after Olalere underwent traditional cleansing rites at the Oloolu family compound following the controversy that trailed a TikTok video she posted during this year’s Oloolu festival.

n

The video, which showed the masquerade’s followers and entourage, sparked reactions after she captioned it, “This is Oloolu at Sokoto area.”

n

The TikToker was subsequently taken to the Oloolu family compound, where she participated in traditional rites after admitting to recording and sharing the footage despite longstanding customs prohibiting members of the public from filming the revered masquerade.

n

Following the exercise, she apologised, deleted the video from her TikTok page and said she regretted her action, claiming she became ill after the incident and would never repeat it.

n

Speaking on the development, Akeem said Olalere had attempted to record the masquerade during last year’s festival but was unsuccessful. According to him, she returned this year disguised as a man in another attempt to capture the event.

n

He said, “Last year, Wasilat videoed Oloolu but wasn’t able to capture it well. But this very year, on the last day of the masquerade festival that Oloolu usually comes out to display, when Oloolu got to their area, she dressed like a male to capture the masquerade.

n

She videoed the followers and entourage but couldn’t capture the masquerade himself. She then posted the video on TikTok and captioned, ‘This is Oloolu at Sokoto area.’ When we saw it, we went to her, and she confessed. She said she had been ill since she committed the act.”

n

“For the sake of peace, so that she would not be beaten, we took her away from her home and took her to the police station so that the tension could subside. She deleted the video and pictures, although some of us still have copies. She confessed to recording the video and posting it online,” he said.

n

Akeem also dismissed reports circulating on social media that the TikToker had died, saying she had completed the required traditional rites and returned home.

n

“She is not dead. Wasilat is alive. She is now in their house at Oremeji. She has been redeemed. Nothing will happen to her again. She is free now and has said she will not do such again. She regretted her decision and said she would never repeat it. She also said she might leave Ibadan whenever the festival is approaching,” he added.

n

Maintaining that the Oloolu tradition remains sacred, Akeem warned against violating its taboos.

n

“Oloolu is real, and when anything forbidden is done, it will certainly have repercussions. Anybody who waits for Oloolu will be afflicted with the masquerade’s wrath,” he said.

n n