Agbo Remireke Festival: A Vibrant Celebration of Culture and Unity in Agbowa-Ikosi, Lagos
The Agbo Remireke Festival, held in the quaint town of Agbowa-Ikosi, Lagos, Nigeria, is a vibrant celebration of culture, unity, and tradition. This festival, usually occurs every five years between December 25th and December 27th, has been a significant event for the community since 1966. However, the last celebration occurred in December 27th, 2023 which sets the stage for the next festival in December, 2028. This timing coincides with the Christmas and sometime the new year period, adding to the festive atmosphere.
The Significance of Agbo Remi-reke Festival
The Agbo Remireke Festival is the most important and significant festival in Agbowa-Ikosi. It transcends religious and social boundaries, bringing together all children and residents of the town. This sense of inclusivity and communal spirit is what makes the festival a unifying event, fostering social cohesion and a shared sense of identity. The festival not only enhances the town’s mood during the Christmas and New Year celebrations but also serves as a rallying point for Epe people in Lagos.
Historical Origins
The origins of the Agbo Remireke Festival are shrouded in intriguing historical accounts. One narrative attribute the festival to Ekine, a historical figure whose boat sank on the high seas and was subsequently rescued by sea deities. These deities were venerated through sacrifices as a token of gratitude and appeasement. Another account credits the festival’s introduction to Agbowa to Efunpotun of the Anjorin family, who, after witnessing the festival in Iwopin with her husband, Maran, brought the idea back to Agbowa. The town’s elders embraced the concept, and by the early 20th century, the Agbo rituals had become an integral part of the town’s cultural heritage.
Cultural and Social Impact
The festival is deeply rooted in the belief system of the Agbowa-Ikosi people. It is seen as a source of blessings, providing children for the barren, ensuring communal stability, and protecting against untimely deaths, diseases, unemployment, and general misery. Additionally, festival songs, often satirical, address social immoralities, highlighting individual and institutional actions and behaviors.
The Festival’s Structure
The festival’s schedule is meticulously planned, starting with the announcement of the festival date by a masquerade called Ukoro, nine days before the event. This announcement is crucial as it signifies the official start of the festival. On the eve of the festival, another masquerade, Alegbagba, emerges from the fetish grove, leading a procession that involves cutting plantains throughout the town. The Agbo festival is characterized by various masquerades, each known as ‘Imoles’ (deities), such as Akowa, Ololo, Ofole, Alapa, Esiwu, Agira, Aligbagba, Igbile, and Ajeye, each playing a unique role in the festival’s rituals and celebrations. The masquerades led the procession to offer sacrifices to the Ogun deity (god of Iron and War). They also danced to the drums before the King during the event.
Agbowa-Ikosi: The Heart of the Festival
Agbowa-Ikosi, located 35 kilometers north of Epe Division, on the south bank of a creek that runs parallel to the sea from Lagos to Ikorodu, is a town with a rich cultural tapestry. The Abowa of Agbowa-Ikosi, HRM Oba Owolabi Saheed Momson, the Mabudeje Aduloju III is the king of the town. Agbowa-Ikosi is surrounded by several villages and towns such as Ota-Ikosi, Ikosi Beach, Orugbo-Iddo, and others. This diverse community adds to the festival’s vibrancy, making it a melting pot of cultural expressions.
The Broader Context: Epe Division
Epe Division, the largest of Lagos State’s five administrative divisions, is a region steeped in history and tradition. Epe town, the division’s capital, shares boundaries with Ijebu Ode, Ikorodu, lbeju-Lekki, the Lagoon, the Atlantic Ocean, and the creek to the Benin River. The people of Agbowa-Ikosi migrated from Ijebu. Established between the 13th and 15th centuries by migrant hunters led by Urakaloye, Epe is known for its cultural manifestations, including the Okosi (Boat Regatta), Agemo, Ebi, Kayo-kayo, and the Epe Ojude Oba festivals. These festivals attract tourists, catalyzing commercial activities and enhancing the region’s economic vitality.
Modern Celebrations and Secular Overtones
Although the Agbo Remi-reke Festival has deep spiritual roots, modern celebrations have incorporated secular elements. The festival now includes performance competitions, a “land regatta,” “lagoon regatta” and the participation of VIP government officials and tourists. There are different masquerades wearing different regalia holding a sword. The regalia of each masquerade featured insignia or logos of different sponsors of the event. The sponsors’ brand products or names which include LG Electronics, Goldberg, Heineken, Three Crown Milk, the Nigerian Navy (since the community is close to the Lagos lagoon) and many others were heavily represented in the masquerade’s regalia, masquerade attendants’ outfits and on the traditional women chiefs’ shawls.
Significance of the festival
The Agbo Remi-reke Festival is more than just a cultural event; it is a celebration of heritage, unity, and the enduring spirit of the Agbowa-Ikosi people. As the town prepares for the next festival, the anticipation and excitement continue to build, promising a grand celebration that will once again bring together the community in joy and unity.