When you think of Lagos, you probably imagine yellow danfo buses, high-rise buildings in Victoria Island, or the never-ending hustle of Balogun Market. But beneath the tech-driven chaos and nightlife glam, Lagos is still very much a city of traditions—some of which are so bizarre and unbelievable, they could pass for urban legends. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
From ancestral masquerade laws to taboo days where businesses shut down, these practices are living proof that Lagos is more than a megacity—it’s a spiritual and cultural powerhouse.
Let’s take you through some of the most jaw-dropping traditions in Lagos that are still alive today.
⚰️ 1. Oro Festival – When Women Must Stay Indoors
The Oro Festival, mainly practiced in Ikorodu, Epe, and parts of Lagos Mainland, is a deeply spiritual Yoruba tradition involving the movement of the Oro deity—a masked ancestral spirit. During this festival:
All women and non-indigenes are prohibited from stepping outside at night, sometimes even during the day.
The Oro spirit is said to punish anyone who disobeys.
Its whistling sound is believed to be a spiritual signal that mortals must avoid.
💡 Fact: In June 2023, multiple communities in Ikorodu shut down completely for Oro, sparking social media debates between modern life and cultural heritage.
🩸 2. Kaka (Scarification) Ceremonies in Egun & Awori Areas
Though now fading, some remote Egun and Awori communities in Badagry and Ojo still preserve the tradition of facial scarification or body markings for identity, protection, or spiritual initiation.
Marks are cut using razor blades during rituals.
They symbolize lineage, protection from spiritual attacks, or transition into adulthood.
Outsiders are often shocked when they witness a child undergoing the ceremony today.
📍 Where: Some Egun villages in Ajara, Badagry still perform symbolic ceremonies today.
🧙🏽♂️ 3. Spirit Marriage (Wife of the River) in Epe Lagoon
In certain Ijebu-Lagos settlements like Epe, it’s believed that some families have spiritual ties with river deities. A daughter may be dedicated as a “river wife”, forbidden to marry a human without ritual separation.
These women wear white, avoid spicy food, or can’t marry outside the town.
The practice stems from ancestral pacts for wealth or protection.
If broken, it’s believed calamity will follow.
💡 Unbelievable but true: Some Lagosians still consult the “Olokun priestess” before marriage to ensure they aren’t unknowingly bonded to a water spirit.
📵 4. Market Closure Days Set by Deities
In parts of Isale Eko and Lagos Island, certain markets (like Oke Arin or Idumota) still observe sacred “no-trade” days, especially during ancestral festivals.
No buying or selling is allowed—shops close voluntarily.
It’s believed trading on such days may lead to sudden loss or spiritual attacks.
These days are set by local priests and respected by even top merchants.
📍 Modern irony: Some traders will go to church and still honor the gods when it’s time.
👹 5. Masquerade Wars of Eyo vs Egungun in Lagos Island
The famed Eyo Festival (white-clad masquerade of Lagos Island) and Egungun (ancestral spirits from the mainland) are part of an ongoing cultural rivalry.
Eyo is elite, regal, and associated with Obas and elite burials.
Egungun is grassroots, dramatic, and fierce—sometimes leading to street clashes.
Both are forbidden from appearing on the same day in central Lagos.
💡 Truth Stranger Than Fiction: In 2018, a near-clash between Egungun from Agege and Eyo masqueraders during an Oba’s burial required police intervention.
📿 6. Naming Ceremonies Where Babies Choose Their Names
Among certain Ijebu and Awori Lagosians, some families still practice a ritual where newborns choose their own names through divination (Ifá or cowrie reading).
A priest presents name options and asks the child spiritually.
The name the oracle confirms is accepted—even if unusual.
Some believe the child’s destiny is tied to this name.
💡 Fact: It’s not uncommon to meet Lagosians with deeply spiritual names like Ifágbèmì or Ògúnsìnáyọ rooted in this process.
🎭 7. Secret Cults and Oath-Taking in Land Ownership
In Lagos’ deeply political land-owning clans (especially in places like Eti-Osa, Ojo, Ibeju-Lekki), tradition still dictates that new chiefs, landowners, or “Omo Oniles” must take ancestral oaths in shrines.
Some use tortoise blood, ancient relics, or even human skulls as part of the rite.
Failure to participate may result in spiritual rejection or land loss.
Some of these cults are over 400 years old and not recognized by law—but still respected by locals.
🧠 Why These Traditions Still Matter
Despite being Nigeria’s most urbanized state, Lagos remains a city built on deep-rooted tradition. These rituals:
Preserve identity in an ever-changing city
Offer insight into ancestral wisdom
Challenge outsiders to rethink what Lagos truly is: a fusion of modern hustle and ancient heartbeat
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