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Oloolu: The Most Feared Masquerade in Ibadan and Yorubaland (PHOTOS)

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The Oloolu masquerade occupies a place of singular reverence in Yoruba cultural life, and nowhere is this more pronounced than in the city of Ibadan, where it is hailed as the father of all masquerades. Its origins, however, lie not in Ibadan itself but in the rugged hill town of Ogbagi-Akoko, present-day Ondo State. In the nineteenth century, when Ibadan stood as a formidable military power in Yorubaland, its warriors waged campaigns across vast territories, and among those who marched to battle was the famed Ayorinde Aje, a fearless fighter who fought alongside legendary Ibadan warlords such as Oderinlo, Ogunmola, Ogbori-Efon, and Ibikunle.

During one of these campaigns, the Ibadan forces came against Ogbagi-Akoko, whose most feared protector was not merely a man but a sacred war masquerade known as Oloolu. This figure was no ordinary festival spirit; in Ogbagi, Oloolu was regarded as a living force of war, feared for its supernatural might and invincibility in battle. Warrior after warrior shrank from confronting it, for none could match its power, until Ayorinde Aje stepped forward. In the clash that followed, Ayorinde subdued the bearer of Oloolu, stripped the masquerade of its sacred regalia, and took the custodian prisoner, a victory that would mark the beginning of Oloolu’s journey into Ibadan’s history.

With the war won, Ayorinde ordered that the sacred costume be carried back to Ibadan. The captured custodian was instructed to accompany it, and his wife was commanded to follow. The woman refused outright, and her defiance enraged Ayorinde, who in a moment of wrath beheaded her. He then ordered that her skull be fixed permanently upon the crown of Oloolu’s attire, a grim act that would seal the masquerade’s most enduring taboo. From that moment, women were forbidden to behold Oloolu in person, for the belief took root that any woman who gazed upon it would suffer grave spiritual consequences, her menstrual cycle disrupted, her health broken, or her life cut short. This prohibition has endured to the present day.

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The name Oloolu itself, as preserved in the oral accounts of the Aje family (the hereditary custodians of the masquerade) derives from a warning uttered by the captured custodian when Ayorinde approached the shrine in Ogbagi where the regalia was kept. He cautioned the warrior that “o lu nkan,” meaning “you will put your life in peril,” if he came too close. Ayorinde heeded the warning but nevertheless ordered the regalia taken to Ibadan, along with its bearer and the skull of the executed woman.

When Oloolu first appeared in Ibadan, the city was in the grip of famine, sickness, and unrest. The chiefs and elders sought remedies without success until Ayorinde proposed that Oloolu be used in a ritual to appease the gods. The masquerade was brought out with offerings and sacrifices, and according to tradition, rain fell soon after, the famine eased, and peace returned. From that day, Oloolu was no longer merely a war trophy but a sacred presence in Ibadan’s spiritual life, invoked in times of need and celebrated as a bringer of blessings, fertility, and protection.

The Oloolu festival, held once each year in the month of July, is the single moment when this fearsome figure moves openly through the streets. Its appearance is shrouded in awe and strict ritual law. It is believed that the first person Oloolu sees on his initial outing each year will fall fatally ill unless swift and costly rites are performed. No other masquerade dares to share the streets with him; as preserved in oral accounts, in the reign of Olubadan Dada, an egungun known as Iponri-Iku attempted it and paid with his life after Oloolu challenged him to pick up a cowry imbued with mystical force. The challenger’s backbone snapped instantly, and he died before the day was done. Communities that have confronted Oloolu in defiance, such as the Opopo Yeosa district, are said to have suffered repeated bloodshed thereafter.

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Physically, Oloolu’s appearance is unlike any other egungun. The costume forms a towering, elongated pyramid stitched from multicoloured cloth and netting, crowned with the bleached skull of the beheaded woman. The bearer never wears shoes, must abstain from marital relations for a full month before the festival, and, in the days before Oloolu emerges, all women must leave his household. He must not carry a child upon his shoulders during the festival period, nor bear any load upon his head.

As he moves through Ibadan accompanied by the deep, hypnotic rhythm of his drummers, the skull atop his crown sways with every step, a constant reminder of the story that gave birth to the most feared masquerade in the city’s history.

Though dreaded for his power to kill or curse, Oloolu is also revered as a source of good fortune. Those who serve him faithfully speak of children granted to the barren, businesses made prosperous, and lives protected from harm. Yet the respect he commands is inseparable from the fear he inspires, for in Ibadan’s cultural memory, Oloolu is both a divine benefactor and a reminder of the city’s warrior past, a living link to the time when Ibadan’s might was measured not only in the strength of its armies but in the sacred power it could command.

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Fans mourn late Nollywood actor Alex Ekubo

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Fans and followers of late Nollywood actor Alex Ekubo across social media platforms have expressed sadness over his demise, describing the incident as shocking and heartbreaking.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Nigerian entertainment industry has been thrown into mourning since Tuesday when news of the actor’s passing surfaced online.

Social media posts by his close colleagues, and trending media reports, stated that he died after a prolonged battle with cancer.

The incident has continued to generate frenzy on social media platforms, with fans across Nigeria and beyond pouring in condolence messages and tributes to the late thespian.

A fan, @Mr. Rekindled of AFC, asked: “Is this some late April Fool joke. God, what kind of news is this? Rest in peace bro I don’t even know what to type”.

@perpetua Ebubech wrote: “Rest well Alex I am done pressurising myself and being ungrateful. Being alive is enough. Aaaaaah Alex”.

@Amed Oshiorenua commented: “This one hurts me ooo”.

@sheismirah_bakr noted that: “Indeed, every soul shall taste death. May we leave behind kindness, love, and good memories May we be celebrated while we are alive, not only mourned when we are gone”.

@oheneba_nanayere_joyce wrote: “Ooo my God, have mercy on us”.

@SAMPSOLO on X wrote: “Omoh, sometimes when I hear such news I just sit down and think about life.

“Everything we’re struggling for can just end in one moment. It’s really scary”.

@nyarkowai23 said: “Aww fine boy. May his soul rest in peace”.

@_emefaaa wrote: “This is really sad, may his soul rest in peace”.

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@ceeyahs_xclusivcollection commented: “Social media makes a lot of us look like we are living happily when we are actually fighting our battles. Remember we are all passing through something. Stay humble, stay kind”.

@DOG3tt said: “What’s wrong with Nollywood, why is everyone dying young?”

@bbelleamieeee wrote: “I loved him in Keeping My Man with Ramsey and Ini. Sad news… rest easy Alex”.

Ekubo’s passing has also attracted tributes from his colleagues and other celebrities, with many describing him as a talented actor and a kind-hearted friend.

Veteran actor Richard Mofe-Damijo wrote: “Life is not only fickle, it can also feel unreal. Even as I type this, I still struggle to fully process it, and it deeply saddens me to hear this news.

“Rest in peace to a truly great soul. You came, you saw, and you conquered. We are proud of the life you lived, the journey you embraced, and the legacy you leave behind.

“Sleep well, our dear Alex.”

Actor Bolanle Ninalowo also wrote: “Rest on, Alex. May God heal your family and us all.”

Singer Peter Okoye simply posted: “RIP”.

Actor Chinedu Ikedieze wrote: “Jesus, how?”

In a post on his X page, human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore described the late actor as a “rare talent”.

“My profound condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Nollywood star Alexx Ekubo, who I understand passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer.

“I never met him personally, but I still cannot forget a movie of his I watched on an Emirates flight from New York to Dubai en route to Nairobi.

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“He was a rare talent whose presence lit up the screen effortlessly. May he rest in power.”

NAN reports that Alex Ekubo, born on April 10, 1986, was widely regarded as one of Nollywood’s most versatile actors, known for his performances in several hit films and television productions.

However, his prolonged absence from the public had raised concerns among fans and colleagues, as he stayed away from social media and public events for a long time.

His last post on Instagram was made in December 2024, shortly after reports emerged that his engagement to US-based model Fancy Acholonu had been called off.

(NAN)

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Why I assaulted my daughter, Ilebaye – Father

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Father of former Big Brother Naija All Stars winner, Ilebaye Odiniya, Emmanuel Odiniya, has broken his silence over the viral altercation involving his daughter, claiming he was provoked before allegedly assaulting her during a family confrontation.

In a voice note purportedly from Odiniya, and shared on Facebook on Sunday by Kogi-based journalist, Jeremiah Promise Enemona Ocheme, now circulating online, the father said the incident was not driven by hatred for his daughter but by frustration over what he described as her changed behaviour after winning the reality TV show.

“I want to put the records straight that what led to that incident was not that I don’t love my daughter. She is one of my best children,” he said.

He claimed he made sacrifices and mobilised support for her emergence as the winner of the BBNaija All Stars edition.

“During her time in the Big Brother Naija house, I contributed a lot. I stood by my daughter and made sure people voted for her massively. I used my influence and connections, including governors and other people, to support her until she won,” he stated.

According to him, their relationship allegedly deteriorated after her victory, accusing the reality star of becoming disrespectful and physically aggressive towards him.

“After she came out and won, she changed. Ilebaye stopped listening to me. I would book her appointments five to six times in a week and she wouldn’t give me audience. She stopped regarding me as her father,” he alleged.

The father further criticised her lifestyle, particularly her alleged cosmetic procedures.

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“I warned her against getting cosmetic surgery — face reconstruction with fillers and BBL. She’s too young for that,” he said.

Emmanuel also alleged that his daughter had physically attacked him on previous occasions.

“She has hit me twice, and I didn’t do anything to her. One day she took an AC hanger and hit me with it till blood started gushing out of my body,” he claimed.

Speaking on the latest confrontation, he alleged that the reality TV star assaulted him first before the situation escalated.

“In this recent incident, she insulted me, hit me first with a sea hanger, causing bleeding, pushed me, and then broke an electric lantern on my head,” he said.

He also accused her of neglecting him financially despite his health challenges.

“I am very sick and needed to go for medical treatment in Dubai. I called Ilebaye to help me with some money and promised to refund her. She said she didn’t have money. But I saw her video spraying bundles of naira at a colleague’s wedding,” he alleged.

The father further alleged that his daughter negatively influenced her younger brother and interfered in his marriage.

“She has also influenced her younger brother with drugs, and he was expelled from school because of it. She once advised me to divorce her mother,” he added.

Despite the accusations, Emmanuel maintained that he still loved his daughter and wanted reconciliation.

“I still love my daughter deeply. I want her to change and do better. I ask for prayers from Nigerians. The police have already intervened and settled the matter,” he said.

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PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Ilebaye, alongside members of her family, including her father and younger brothers, were hospitalised following the confrontation at their Abuja residence.

The incident became public after the reality TV star shared an emotional livestream video crying for help, sparking concern among fans and followers online.

Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, disclosed that all parties involved sustained injuries and were receiving medical treatment.

“The man is in the hospital; he is sick. All of them were badly injured and are all in the hospital,” Adeh had said.

She also stated that the siblings were under police protective custody while investigations continued into the matter.

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Kwara concludes airlift of pilgrims for 2026 Hajj

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The Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has concluded the airlift of intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj exercise with the departure of the last batch of 223 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims departed aboard Max Air from the Babatunde Idi-Agbon International Airport, Ilorin, at about 6:05 am on Saturday.

The development was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Press Secretary of the Board, Sodiq Abdulmumin Folarin.

Speaking before the departure, the Chairman of the Board, Prof. Mashood-Mahmud Jimba, thanked Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for supporting the successful transportation of the pilgrims.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, advised the pilgrims “to be good ambassadors of the state and country at large while in Saudi Arabia.”

Also speaking, the Amirul-Hajj and Etsu Tsaragi, Aliyu Abdullahi Kpotwa, urged the pilgrims to pray for peace and unity in the country and the state.

The final batch was accompanied by Jimba, Abdulkadir, Kpotwa and other state officials.

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