The city tolerated different religious groups each going about its worship without any molestation. There are different denominations of Christianity. The Anglican Primary school today is owned by our Saviour Anglican Church, which was first sited at present No. 40, Idumosi street, Oto-Awori and when the space could not be enough, the church was moved to No. 1, Palace road. It was at this site that the Late founder of Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C), Late Pastor Ayo Babalola attended his first primary school. However, when it was discovered that our dear visitor Ijalakin’s family were not forthcoming to the school due to long distance, Oto-Awori decided to move the school to the present site, along Lagos Badagry Expressway. Thereafter, the community started look for a suitable place and after discovery of the new site, pleaded with Ogbetedo to release part of their land for this new development and they graciously obliged to this request.

In the mainland city are churches belonging to the Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic and the different Pentecostal Churches such as the Redeemed Christian Church of God, The Deeper Life Bible Church. There are at least two mosques in Oto-Awori, and there are other ones that springs up around the town. There are also those that are from the Oreint such as Eckankar, Grail Message and others. Traditional form of worship in spite of modern religions seems to still occupy the people beliefs in the area such as; Oro, Egungun, Eluku, and other traditional religions are still being practised in Oto-Awori. This is concretely seen at road junctions, where scarifies of different forms litter the ground.

IST CHURCH –UNITED AFRICAN METHODIST CHURCH

IST MOSQUE- OTO-AWORI CENTRAL MOSQUE

OTO-AWORI JETTY

TRADITIONAL PRACTICES REGARDED AS FESTIVALS IN OTO-AWORI LAND

The traditional practices that are occasionally celebrated in Oto-Awori Land are:

• Gbedu
• Egere or Woro
• Agasa Olowo
• Agasa Abidikugu/Agasa Ago
• Egungun/Eegun
• Gelede
• Kori
• Apala
• Ajogbo

Some of these traditional practices were named after a dance, a type of music or a god. For example, Apala is a type of music. Gelede is a festival named after a god while Agelede is the name of the dance usually performed during the festival. The natives of the town regards these traditional practices as festivals because of the processes involved in its celebration.

GBEDU

This festival is usually performed when the king is about to bestow an important title upon a native or an important dignitary in the society. The drums used during “gbedu” festival can only be found at the king’s palace. They are all of the same size with one of them designated as the lead drum “Iyailu” which means the mother of drums. This festival is equally performed to mark the coronation anniversary of a king.

EGERE/WORO

Egere festival may be performed during the coronation of a new king or when an important event is taking place in the community. It is important to note that the town is divided into two mains parts called “Ogono” and “Osi”. The festival called “Egere” is known by the natives of “Osi Community” call it Egere.

During this festival, the natives of Ogono community use a set of drums called Bembe while Sakara drums are used by the Osi community.

At the commencement of this festival, a horn known as “Pere” is used to create awareness in the natives. The natives sing abusive songs at one another.

These songs which were sung for fun are meant to applaud good conduct and also correct certain social vices committed by the affected person(s).

AGASA OLOWO

Agasa Olowo is derived from the musical instrument used during the traditional practice. This instrument is a pair of cymbals called struck idiophones.

During this festivals, abusive songs reflecting the past mistakes or wrong committed by people are usually sung to embrace such a person and at the same time, advise such wrong doers to turn a new leaf. These abusive songs are part of the fun of Agasa Olowo Festival.

The musical instruments used are the Hourglass drums (of different sizes) called “Gangan” or “Soyan” and “Bembe”. An instrument called Agogo (i.e. idiophone) is also used. The names of the hourglass drums are:

• Awere (the smallest)
• Omele ako
• Omele abo
• Iya ilu (the lead drum)

AGASA ABIDIKUN/AGASA AGO

Abidikun means “a person who moved or rolled his buttocks”. During this festival, the natives rolled their buttocks while dancing. Agogo, small metal Gong named stuck idiophone is used. The names of drums, which belong to the Ago Esemble are:

• Eso
• Omele ako (male drum)
• Omele abo (female drum) and
• Iya ilu (the lead drum)

“Eso” is the drum of the highest pitch while Iya ilu or lead drum is the lowest pitch. Each type of drum ensemble has a Male drum, a Female drum and a lead drum.

EEGUN/EGUNGUN

The Egungun festival could also be called the Eegun festival. Eegun is a short form of the word Egungun which connotes Masquerade.

This festival is believed to create peace and in addition fulfilled people’s good wishes. The diffferent masquerades and their specific names are:

• Okokoko – Agbebonja
• Leebe
• Ajogbeeru
• Ege
• Poporu
• Arobadi
• Oloduboye
• Eiyeba
• Akoba
• Jenju
• Owuye and Akerekoro

The musical instruments used during Egungun festival are:

• Awere,
• Eso,
• Omele Ako (male drum) and
• Omele abo (female drum)

GELEDE

This masquerade wears a wooden mask and a bulky costume. A house where all necessary preparation such as wearing of mask and multi-coloured costume in addition to offering traditional prayer (Iwure) are made is called “Oju Ase”.

One peculiar feature of this festival is the fact that there is no restriction to the gender of individuals that assemble at “Oju Ase”. “Agelede” is a type of dance usually performed by its adherents while “Gelede” is the name given to the masquerade. “Ago” and “Aja” are the musical instruments used during Gelede Festival.

KORI

Kori is a cultural practice often staged to enhance child rearing and care for the little children in the community. It is the general belief that its celebration is to appease the god of Kori, to enhance sales of goods at higher profits and to provide barren women with children of their choice.

It is equally belived that the god of Kori will cleanse the children of the community from sickness and untimely death. This festival is celebrated occasionally.

It involves mothers and children appearing in a special traditional costume to sing beautiful songs and dance round the god of Kori with necessary gifts of Obi, Orogbo and Atare with which they appease the god.

Bata, Bembe and Sakara drums are the musical instruments used during this festival.

During this festival, children dance and sing songs of reverence to this god. They also offer kolanuts to Kori. The names of the drums used during this festival are:

• Bata
• Bembe
• Sakara

APALA

This festival is very much like the Agasa Ago festival. It is also meant for the old people. The dancers are old individuals who dress in beautiful traditional clothes and each individual ties a piece of cloth around his waist. Each dancers holds a horsetail (Irukere) in his hand.

Apala is now one of the most popular and modern traditional music of the Aworis. It is no longer restricted to the old people but now cuts across both the young kand the old.

The purpose of Apala traditional music is to celebrate the life and achievement of notable personalities in the community. It is equally used nowadays to celebrate house warning, birthday, wedding and other special occasions.

AJOGBO

Before this festival is performed, the organizers worship a god known as “Atisu”.

Ajogbo festival is performed for three reasons:

• To welcome warriors back home from the battlefield
• To create an atmosphere of peace in the town
• To make the exit of an important personality.

Ajogbo is an acrobatic dance and a day is usually set aside for it. Ajogbo drums and a pot-like drum called Apesi as well as the metal gong are the musical instruments used during this festival.

PROMINENT DEITIES AND THIER FESTIVALS IN OTO-AWORI

The prominent deities that were brought along with the founders to Oto-Awori land include:

• ORO                     RIVER DIETIES
• OGUN                   OTA
• ALAALU                AGBA
• AALE                     ALAAMO

ORO FESTIVAL

The Oro festival is very significant in Oto-Awori. It serves as an avenue to curb the inhabitants of any wrongful act that is against the laid down norms of the community. Such acts may include: stealing, fighting, adultery and other strange happenings. It is so respected that nobody violates its laid down norms without being sanctioned.

This festival is celebrated in every four years. It is the general belief of its adherents that the effect of its celebration brings peace and good tidings in addition to cleansing the community of strange happenings.

OGUN

Ogun the god of iron is celebrated at the time when it becomes very expedient to do so. However, the usual practice of Ogun adherents, like that of Oro festival is to celebrate it in every four years.

Ogun is celebrated to prevent bad happenings such as serious accidents including deep cuts and injuries done to human body.

This is to appease the god of iron in order to prevent accidents and other serious injuries that could lead to termination of life of the affected person.

AJAYE (ALAALU)

This is also known as the god of Ajaye, it is mostly celebrated in every four years just like those of Ogun, Oro and Agba.

It is celebrated to bring good wishes and continuous peaceful co-existence to the people of the community.

It is the general belief that after its celebration, abudant blessings, peace, progress and breakthrough in business opportunity often comes with it.

The god of Ajaye is so peculiar in the sense that its replica is founded in a place known as Oto-Awori-Iddo by some of its founders who migrated long time ago from Oto-Awori. This same Ajaye shrine is still in existence in Oto-Awori-Iddo up till today.

OTA

Ota is a river goddess that watches over all the activities taking place in the laggon and the entire Oto-Awori Land.

It always ensure that there is a continuous check and balances over the rate at which the lagoon water body and its environment are exploited through man’s activities.

When there is urgent need to appease, it occasionally comes out in the night usually with a warning light signal above the water level.

When it is not venerated or appeased at the right time, it often leads to scarcity of fishes and even get to the extent of sinking boats which may result into loss of lives and properties of the paddlers. Its negative effect also cause the spread of small pox to the people of the surrounding community.

AALE

Aale is celebrated in every four years. Through its adherents often gather together to appease it whenever there is urgent need to do so.

It is believed that the popular saying, “Alale a gbe wa o” means that its celebration will always serve as pillar of support to one’s endeavours in life.

Whenever it is appeased, it usually brings along with it good tidings, good health, abundant fishes and water animals.

Alaamo and agba are the other river goddesses that symbolise abundant blessings and good will of the people.

All are located in the popular Ologe lagoon river.