By Gbadamosi Joseph
The Inhabitants of Iba junction, Lagos have shown profound displeasure towards the recent activities of the popular masquerade known as EGUNGUN. They claim that not only does it happen weekly but it is simply a means for extortion of inhabitants.
The Question of whether this is simply a religious practice or a means for extortion can only be answered by the indigenes and inhabitants of this community.
Quadri Sultan, a 300 level student of the Lagos state university who resides in Iba Junction area during an interview complained bitterly saying
"I believe this activity is not for cultural purposes. The purpose is not Cultural. They are not celebrating the festival, they just come out when they are broke to extort people"
When asked whether he had experienced a confrontation, he replied "They have flogged me once".
It so happens that what worries the inhabitants the most is that it happens weekly and sometimes daily. An interviewee who chose to be anonymous said
" It is simply a means for extortion. If not then it should not happen everyday. They stop everyone they see on the way. I was coming back from school one day when I was stopped. I had to pretend like I was one of them to escape".
"I believe this is a degradation of the culture. They have bastardized the entire purpose of the festival". Says Quadri Sultan
The Egungun Festival has been valued over the years in Yoruba land. Citizens of Nigeria have come to respect the masquerade. To disrupt such a sacred activity in order to extort people is not only an abuse and degradation of the culture but a threat to the inhabitants of the community in question. If Nothing is done about this like a virus it might spread and we hope that by then it will not be too late.
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