If a woman dares the taboo, a social injunction, not to watch Oloolu from a hiding place or see the masquerader face-t-face in a procession, she would lose her life. There is no known remedy for it. Death is the price.
This gory scenario is not unconnected with the vow made at Akoko war by the Ayorinde Aje, Ibadan war commander who captured Oloolu and had to decapitate Oloolu’s daughter to force the father unto complete submission. It is the scull of Olootu’s daughter that is today part of the masqueraders costume.
Oloolu’s sight is scary. It could make a child tremble and collapse. Men who are not strong-hearted could pee in their trousers if they are face-to-face with the fearsome-looking Ibadan masquerader, Oloolu, whose sight could drive terror into the heart of any timid man. If men could spot geese pimples at the sight of Oloolu, what would happen if a women sees the dreadful masquerader it is better imagined. This in a word is no imagination. A woman who is un fortunate to behold the sight of Oloolu would, undoubtedly, exit the world. Oloolu’s awe-inspiring physique is a manifestation of Yoruba people’s high attainment in the spiritual realm.
On the day of celebration, as the masquerader prepares in its coven at Ode Aje area of Ibadan for outing procession, drummers would huddle at a point close to the coven, talking with their drums to the masquerader in the coven as it prepares, putting on its costumes. Chanting the panegyrics of the founder of Aje Compound and, of course, Ayorinde Aje, the fiercesome and indomitable warrior of Ibadan would be so loud overwhelming and intimidating. All these are sheer preparation for the annual celebration of Oloolu festival.
Ode Aje compound, the street and the neighbourhood would be swarming with a large number of person in the crowd eager with a mounting compelling need of the moment to see Oloolu. Immediately the rituals for the outing are completed, Oloolu emerges from the coven in its full costumes. Immediately, the crowd surges to follow the masquerader. The beating of the talking drums becomes louder. At that point in time, if for any reason, a man looks round and about, he would not see any woman, lady or girl. It is strictly, a man’s affair. Men, everywhere. The street is congested, thronged with crowd. They would spontaneously chorous Oloolu loko, Oloolu loko. As the crowd literally surges after the masquerader that enthralls them on its way to paying courtesy visit to Olubadan at his palace and Ibadan high chiefs at their residences in the metropolitan city of Ibadan. The procession rises in eulogy and jubilation, chanting and singing. At every point of call, Oloolu prays for its host, who gives the masquerader money and a brief entertainment.
Festival of masqueraders is usually held in July. It is a time that Ibadan people play host to heavenly guests, masqueraders, who are regarded ancestors of those who are living. The festival lasts for about three weeks. People usually celebrate the festival with pomp and pageantry. Villagers will come to the Ibadan urban centre for celebration. Oloolu used to go on procession about two weeks after other masqueraders have held sway on Ibadan streets for three weeks. This, undoubtedly, is a proof or evidence that Oloolu is not only a queer masquerader, but a mysterious one . Its costumes are dreadful to look at. On the shoulder of the masquerader sits a scull. He holds thigh bone. What a frightening sight you say. Yes, these are not usually part of masquerader’s costumes. No wonder men are even afraid of Oloolu not to talk of women who are forbidden to set their eyes on the dreaded masquerader who spells death to any woman who has eyes contact with it. With the chorus: Oloolu lo ko, Oloolu loko, the huge crowd bursts into carnival sort of celebration. Most of them in spasm of joy and happiness, sweating as beads of sweat roll down the faces of men celebrating Oloolu.
Oloolu is not just a masquerader, it’s a masquerader with a difference. It is a war masquerader that is not abinitio indigenous to Ibadan. It was captured in Akoko during a fierce war fought between Ibadan and Akoko. Its costumes were captured in the war and its owner too. Ibadan had gone to war against Akoko town. To the surprise of Ibadan warriors, there was a particular fighter in a costume of a masquerader, who was fighting in defence of Akoko town. He was powerful that he easily destroyed any person who squared up with him as the battle raged. At a point, Ayorinde Aje, an Ibadan powerful war commander, faced the terrible Akoko warrior and they endlessly fought invoking both physical and spiritual powers. At a point, commander Ayorinde subdued and overcame Oloolu. The Akoko warrior was in masquerader’s costumes during the fight with Ayorinde. After overcoming him, Ayorinde unmasked the masquerader as he held him hostage. As the war practice in the past, if a person was captured in war, he automatically became a slave and bound to follow the the order of the man who captured him. To the surprise of Ayorinde, Oloolu refused to follow the man who capture him in the war front. Ayorinde was angry and killed the daughter of Oloolu who was captured together with her father. The masquerader could not bear it any longer as Ayorinde severed the head Oloolu’s daughter and ordered him to carry it. Today, the scull that is part of Oloolu’s costumes is said to be the head of the Oloolu’ s daughter that Ayorinde severed during that terrible war.
That perhaps is why it’s a taboo for a woman to see Oloolu in its full regalia. It is believed that if a woman secretly watches Oloolu from a hiding place, it would shock her that she would feel an instant unnatural paralysis, that may eventually lead to her death. It is believed that she would immediately lose ability to menstruate.
Despite the terrible attributes of Oloolu as a woman killer, its spirit is usually invoked to appease other gods and goddesses of Ibadan if it is divined that they are angry. In case of threat of epidemic in Ibadan, Oloolu is usually consulted and implored to carry special sacrifice to neutralize the power and evil machination of any dastardly group on Ibadan sons, daughters and guests. It must however be stressed that woman is not supposed to see Oloolu while performing all these special services for Ibadan.
–Tajudeen Adigun
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