Woman in Viral Oloolu Video Mistook Traditional Figure for Masquerade — Olubadan Palace

The palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland has reacted to the viral video of a female TikTok user who reportedly underwent traditional cleansing rites after recording a procession associated with the annual Oloolu Masquerade Festival in Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to Nigerian Tribune, the palace spokesperson, Chief Adeola Oloko, who spoke on behalf of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on Monday, said the woman did not capture the sacred Oloolu masquerade itself but mistakenly recorded Alawo Oloolu, a figure linked to the Oloolu tradition.

Oloko said the traditional custodians of the Oloolu compound confirmed that the woman recorded the procession while it was passing through the streets of Ibadan.

“She did not capture Oloolu; she mistook it for Alawo. We contacted the Mogaji of the Oloolu compound, and he confirmed that a woman who mistook Alawo of Oloolu for the real Oloolu masquerade captured it on the street,” he said.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Mourns Ibadan High Chief Lekan Alabi

The palace spokesman said the woman allegedly developed health challenges after sharing the footage online, prompting her family to approach the custodians of the tradition for intervention.

“After posting it, she realised the blood in her body began to dry. So her family reached out to the Oloolu people immediately, and they attended to her in accordance with the tradition of the land.”

Oloko said the incident followed a breach of the traditional restriction placed on women regarding viewing certain aspects of the Oloolu procession.

“We have told people to obey simple instructions; women are not supposed to see Oloolu, but out of curiosity, she disobeyed,” he added.

However, he said he could not verify claims circulating online that the woman disguised herself as a man before recording the procession.

“I cannot confirm she disguised herself as a man. Those are accounts on social media. But she took the footage or photo on the street,” he stated.

Videos circulating on social media showed the woman undergoing what appeared to be a traditional cleansing ceremony at the Oloolu compound, surrounded by traditional worshippers.

In the footage, she was seen with her head shaved, dressed in red clothing and participating in the rites, while some reports claimed that animals, including giant African snails and a ram, were presented as part of the prescribed rituals.

Another video showed a goat being slaughtered, with claims that its blood was used during the cleansing process.

Some social media users also alleged that the woman’s mother appealed to the traditional custodians for forgiveness on behalf of her daughter.

An Ibadan-based content creator, Ayo Adams, who visited the Oloolu compound on Monday, said the woman was alive and recovering.

According to Adams, the woman, identified as Wasilat, allegedly recorded the crowd around Oloolu in the Oremeji area of Ibadan last Thursday and later reported health concerns to security operatives.

He said the police took her and her family to the Oloolu compound, where traditional rites were performed.

“This morning, we were at Oloolu’s compound, and they informed us that the lady is alive.”

Adams added:

“Last Thursday, Wasilat discreetly recorded Oloolu’s crowd in Oremeji area of Ibadan. On Friday, she reported to security operatives about the state of her health, linking it to her previous action of recording Oloolu’s crowd.”

He further said the woman had since been reunited with her family.

“The secretary of the compound confirmed that the lady has reunited with her family and is currently recovering,” Adams wrote on X.

The annual Oloolu Festival is celebrated by descendants of the Oloolu lineage and attracts traditional rulers, worshippers, cultural enthusiasts and visitors from across Yorubaland.

The festival features prayers, rituals, sacrifices, drumming, dancing and processions aimed at honouring ancestors and seeking peace, protection, prosperity and the wellbeing of the community.