1. Eyo Festival.

Eyo festival also known as Adamu Orisha is an occasional event held to celebrate the ascension to the throne of the Oba (King) of Lagos, Nigeria or to commemorate the passage of an Oba or an illustrious individual who had contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of the state. Thus it is the highest honour Lagosians can pay to celebrate the diligence and eminence of public service.

The Eyo Festival is the most celebrated cultural piece of the people of Lagos, Nigeria. With its splendid, expansive theatrical displays and pageantry highlights that showcase the aboriginal history of Lagos through a picturesque array of regalia and costumes, the festival is largely regarded as a day of joyous splendour and gaiety for all Lagosians and tourists both local and international.

The word “Eyo” also refers to the costumed dancers, known as the masquerades that come out during the festival.

A full week before the festival (always a Sunday), the ‘senior’ eyo group, the Adimu (identified by a black, broad-rimmed hat), goes public with a staff. When this happens, it means the event will take place on the following Saturday. Each of the four other ‘important’ groups — Laba (Red), Oniko (yellow), Ologede (Green) and Agere (Purple) — take their turns in that order from Monday to Thursday.

On Eyo Day, normally around November 26th, the main highway in the heart of the city (from the end of Carter Bridge to Tinubu Square) is closed to traffic, allowing for procession from Idumota to the Iga Idunganran palace. The white-clad Eyo masquerades represent the spirits of the dead, and are referred to in Yoruba as “agogoro Eyo” (literally: “tall Eyo”).

2. Durbar Festival.

The Durbar festival dates back hundreds of years to the time when the Emirate (state) in the north used horses in warfare. During this period, each town, district, and nobility household was expected to contribute a regiment to the defense of the Emirate. Once or twice a year, the Emirate military chiefs invited the var­ious regiments for a Durbar (military parade) for the Emir and his chiefs. During the parade, regiments would showcase their horsemanship, their preparedness for war, and their loyalty to the Emirate.

Today, Durbar has become a festival celebrated in honor of vis­iting Heads of State and at the culmination of the two great Muslim festivals, Id-el Fitri (commemorating the end of the holy month of Ramadan) and Ide-el Kabir (commemorating Prophet Ibrahim sacrificing a ram instead of his son). It begins with prayers, followed by a parade of the Emir and his entourage on horses, accompanied by music players, and ending at the Emir’s palace.

3. Ofala Festival.

Ofala festival is a ceremony that is practiced by indigenes of Onitsha in Anambra state Nigeria, the commercial nave centre of the south- eastern Nigeria. The Festival is described as the most important surviving traditional ceremony of the Onitsha indigenes. It is also an occasion where the Natives/Indigenes of Anambra join together for dancing, singing, meeting old friends and making new ones. The festive season is also seen as, when the people of the community, political, cultural, and family systems celebrates anniversaries and commemorate important events in order to create life-giving stories, hope, and a sense of purpose. The 3-day event is held every October and it captures the main religious ceremony of the community.

At the Obi’s (king’s) palace, tens of thousands of men and women dance to the heart-pulsating beat of traditional drummers and merry making. The highlight of the festival is the Obi’s entrance in his royal regalia, decorated with crown (okpu ododo), announced by traditional trumpeters earlier. The red-cap chiefs (ndiichie) in their traditional attires arrive independently, each accompanied by their village music. They then proceed to the Obi’s throne in order of importance. There, they pay homage to the Obi by kneeling on the floor and bowing down before him. The celebration then continues as they dance, still in order of importance, to the tune of the sacred royal music/drums (egwu ota) at intervals of three along the palace grounds. The beat also changes in accordance with their respective titles and positions.

4. Argungu Fishing Festival.

The Argungu fishing festival began in 1934 – and was used to mark peace between the former Sokoto Caliphate and the people of Argungu in Kebbi Kingdom. The two empires had fought for centuries, and hostilities only ceased with the arrival of the British.

This colorful annual festival takes place in Arugungu,(“ar-GOON-goo”), a riverside town in Kebbi State, about 64 miles from Sokoto.

On the final day of the festival, a competition is held in which thousands of men and women line up along the river and at the sound of a gunshot, all of them jump into the river and have an hour to catch the largest fish. The winner can take home as much as 7,500 US dollars. Competitors are only allowed to use traditional fishing tools (nets and traditional gourds made with calabashes a sort of dried and hollowed pumpkin) and many prefer to catch fish entirely by hand (a practice also popular elsewhere and known as “noodling” in the United States) to demonstrate their prowess.

5. New Yam Festival.

The new yam festival is the feast of new yam; the breaking of the yam, harvest is followed by thanksgiving. An offering is offered and the people pray for renewed life as they eat the new yam. An offering is made to the spirits of the field with special reference to the presiding deity of the yam crop. In the olden days, fowls offered as sacrifice must be carried to the farm and slain there, with the blood being sprinkled on the farm. When the ceremony is completed, everything is taken home; the yams are laid up before the “Alụsị” (deity) together with all the farming implements, while the fowls are eaten at the subsequent feast. The whole community shares in this harvest and thanksgiving called “Afịa-ji Ọkụ”. The meaning and significance of the name is worth explaining. The idea behind “Afịa-ji Ọkụ” seems to indicate exertion, industry, to strive after, hence to trade; “ji”, to lay hold of and “Ọkụ” riches. Thus, the full meaning is:  “Industry or trade brings wealth.” In those days, yam largely constituted wealth.

The feast is held once a year and is observed at a sacred spot. It is held in the sixth month after planting and in some parts is observed on an Nkwọ day only. It is held when the first new yams are available. The seed of which were planted in the first month of the year, in order to be ready in time for the ceremony, whereas the main crops is planted in the second month.

In the evening, the ceremony continues in homes by performing rituals for the family. No visitor will partake of the food on the first day ritual and it must be pounded yam. On the second day, the full festival takes effect and larger cooking and feasting continue for at least four days.

In the ceremony blessing is sought of the yam spirit. Kola nut is produced and standing in front of the “Alụsị” the petitioner appeals: “Eat this kola and help the yam in the small farms that, if the rain be too much, they may not drown , and if the rain be too strong, he may not cause them to whither.” (the new yam legend)

Leboku new yam masquerade

6. Igue Festival.

The Igue festival takes pre-eminence among festivals celebrated in Edo State. It is celebrated in December  by the Oba of Benin to usher in the New Year and as a thanksgiving for the outgoing one. The Igue festival attracts tourists from across Nigeria and abroad. Most of the festivals have a yearly cycle and are open to general viewing and sometimes, participation. During the seven days of elaborate traditional and cultural activities, Bini chiefs are seen in their enviable traditional regalia, including the Iloi (Queens) in their Okuku (hairdo).

Some others like the Obazu festival held among the Aomas of luleha in Owan West Local Government Area is strictly restricted to the men folk.

7. The Egungun Festival.

The Egungun festival is a family ritual that is celebrated through outing of masquerades. Egungun priests, who have the ability to communicate with the ancestors invoke the spirits of ancestors and those spirits are said to dwell among the living in the form of the Egungun during the festival.

The Egungun Festival is the most colourful of Yoruba festivals. It shows off the rich heritage of the Yoruba in the elaborate costumes that are worn by the masquerades.
Members of an Egungun family drum and dance to accompany the Egungun and it is through their drumming and dance that they are possessed by the spirits of the ancestors. Once possessed, the masquerade cleanses the community through whipping and sacrifices. It also bestows blessings upon spectators and issues warnings about impending events.

Annual Egungun festivals are held in Yoruba communities and in communities that practice Yoruba traditional worship around the world. During the festivals, the life and fortune of that community and its people is renewed as the festivals bring the living together to strengthen their unity.

Not just anyone can wear the regalia of the Egungun. Initiates are born into Egungun families, called ‘Oje’, and different families have their own Egungun. Some of the most popular and revered Egunguns include the Eyo, Elewe, Alapansanpa, Oloolu Adegbogun, Janduku, Pajeboroko, and lye Kiye.

8. Calabar Carnival.

Calabar Carnival festival in Nigeria, also tagged ” Africa’s Biggest Street Party”, was created as part of the vision of making the Cross River State in Nigeria, the number one tourist destination for Nigerians and tourists all over the world. The carnival which begin on every 1 December and last till 31 December has boosted the cultural mosaic of Nigeria people while entertaining the millions of spectators within and outside the State, and boosting industry for all stakeholders. It is one of the most Amazing Festivals in Nigeria.

9. Sango Festival.

Because Sango, a former Oyo ruler, is identified with thunder and lightning, the festival held in his honor takes place toward the end of the rainy season in early November and features various ceremonies connected with rain magic.
On the first day of the seven-day festival, women form a procession to the river, where they sink a hollow calabash gourd filled with special medicines to mark the beginning of the dry season. The Timi, or king, meets the worshippers at a place near the river, accompanied by drummers, trumpeters, and a huge crowd of onlookers. The women of the palace put on a special musical performance praising all the tribe’s rulers throughout its history.
The remainder of the week is devoted to similar performances of music and dance before the Timi, although their real purpose is to please and entertain the god Sango. The priest each day dances in a self-induced trance-like state, becomes possessed by the god and gains magical powers. He eats fire and swallows gunpowder. In his trance-like state, it is believed that he speaks with the voice of Sango and is impervious to pain. The festival concludes on the seventh day with a procession of fire in which a worshipper carries a large pot containing a sacred flame that brings blessings to all parts of the village.