PG3: It is our tradition

IT IS OUR TRADITION

My previous tour was a wonderful experience; I learned so many things on the "Lagos beach life" and met really interesting people. Like Mr. Lakay, who promised to take me to Lagos Island for my second tour. He seems to know a lot about Lagos and its history.

On getting to Lagos Island a few places caught my attention; across the bridge was a beautiful scene of the City of Lagos Island. High rises and colourful containers made it seem very commercial, and commercial it was indeed. Although it was a public holiday (Sallah), the City's markets were open and very busy. On the same road was this vintage building being renovated. Mr. Lakay tells me not to get over excited just yet; "there are so many other buildings as such where we are going".

"Public Holiday": #page3 #Lagosisland #thelagostheme

Our first stop was at the Racecourse in Tafa Balewa Square; this monument was built to compete with international standards. What interested me the most were the Art works surrounding the complex. The brown Eagles and white Horses gave the Lagos Racecourse an outstanding look amongst other Racecourses of the world. It's quite hard trying to get to the Racecourse at TBS if you've never heard or been there; the Locals call it 'Racecross' which could be quite confusing.

Racecourse TBS #page3 #thelagostheme

Unfortunately, it was a different scene inside the complex; Traders try to make the best of the place by using the complex as an avenue to sell their goods. This wasn't the case 50 years ago or thereabout. The sport then was mainly patronized by government officials and white expatriates. It's such a pity the Lagos state government sees no need to renovate the complex to satisfy the new demand for the sport.

"Racecourse TBS Entrance" #page3 #thelagostheme

Here's Mr. Lakay posing by what is known as the Eyo, just outside the gates of Racecourse TBS. It's an iconic symbol who dances in a Lagos traditional festival called "The Eyo Festival". The celebration of this festival isn't done often; it can take up to four years to hold in Lagos, thus, a well honored festival.

"Mr. Lakay at Racecourse TBS" #page3 #thelagostheme 

Onto the next trip was the perfect parking spot where we parked our tout car, a white Peugeot 206. It's usually difficult finding a parking space in suburban areas like this in Lagos, but with Mr. Lakay's street reputation we were able to have a parking space right in-front of a 'No Parking' spot.

  "No Parking" on Campus Street, Lagos Island #page3 #thelagostheme

It was only a few walks behind the building where we parked our tour car when Mr. Lakay called a friend of his who lives on Adams Street, Lagos Island. He says he'd like to show me a palace located within the slums of Lagos Island. Of course I was very delighted and anxious to visit such a place; this is what I came here for.

"Mr. Lakay calls" in slum #page3 #thelagostheme

Here we were at Adams Street, Agbole Etti compound, Lagos Island. Although Lagos compounds usually come with huge fences separating each house from its neighbors', the buildings here don't come with fences. A compound however, can be identified by its building's "walls". Mr. Lakay first introduces me to his friend, Tunde Adesola, a local bar owner at the palace. His bar is very small and can only take nothing more than 10 people.

Tunde Adesola, a local bar owner in Lagos slums #page3 #thelagostheme

Luckily for us other friends of Mr. Lakay heard of his tour with me and decided to drop by at the bar. Prince Alade Olorogun Etti, a friend and royal member of the palace was the first to arrive.

"Prince Alade Olorogun Etti" #page3 #thelagostheme

Prince Alade tells us of the palace and a picture of an elder hung in the bar. It was written FATHER BEFORE FATHER, the prince tells us his name is Baba Osholonshi (in Yoruba), meaning 'he's not a poor man'.

FATHER BEFORE FATHER #page3 #thelagostheme

The prince invites us to the palace and its voodoo shrines, but insists I please the gods with a little offering first. I really didn't have much but offered him 2000 Naira, he accepted the money and we started walking round the compound. We had over 8 people accompany us as we ventured into this scene, which made the walk even more interesting.

 "Around the Palace" #page3 #thelagostheme

Our first stop was at the front of the palace and it really felt like I time traveled once we got into the first scene; the building has actually stood there since 1880.

"Abgole Etti Compound" #page3 #thelagostheme

What even amused me more about the palace' building was the art works on its walls. The Eyo dancer and drummers were on almost every wall at sight at the palace, I really felt like I was standing in the center of Eko itself; the place where its traditions were born.

"Walls of Etti" #page3 #thelagostheme

The next stop around the compound was a voodoo shrine, this shrine is said to be a public one where many issues within the community are settled. Although the shrine was covered with a mat, the prince warns of our entrance into the shrine, saying anything media is prohibited in the shrine. Scared for me own life, I had to get the best shot i can get via standing outside the room to the main shrine.

"It is our Tradition" #page3 #thelagostheme

The last shrine didn't even look like a shrine, just a doorway with seashells piled up on the ground covered with an old white cloth. The prince tells me this shrine is where all their voodoo are kept, and that people who walk by here are aware not to step on it, for they know not what might happen to them... "Now I'm really scared for me life".

"It is our Tradition" #page3 #thelagostheme

Just opposite the voodoo shrine was a very old Well. They tell me the Well was built with the palace; that's over a hundred years ago. Locals here still make use of this Well, and it serves them well they say.

Oldest Well I've ever seen on #page3 #thelagostheme

We headed back to the bar and having a few pints of lager, I gazed at the clock noticing it was getting late. The locals who accompanied us round the compound were now all over my car asking for money, typical of Lagos 'area boys'. So i had to give out some more money, although money well spent; at least I didn't only get my pictures, I also learned that ancient tradition is something Lagosians can't do without.

"Back Home" #page3 #thelagostheme

Already working on my next tour so you can keep an update by simply viewing our photos on 'Instagram web profiles': www.instagram.com/slumbook5

SOURCE:

THE EYO FESTIVAL BY PELU AWOFESO http://www.travelintelligence.com/travel-writing/eyo-festival

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