This December, Lagos did what it always does best: it showed up, stood tall, and wrote unforgettable history. On 27 December 2025, the iconic Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), ground zero of Lagos Island’s proud identity, became the beating heart of one of Nigeria’s most spectacular cultural celebrations: the Eyo Festival.
But this was not just another event on the “Detty December” calendar. This year’s edition was epoch-making, the first in eight years, and a triumphant return of the people’s festival; a vibrant tapestry woven with tradition, history, emotion, and unmissable spectacle.
The sights, sounds and the spirit of Lagos peaked even at cockcrow. From the early hours of the morning, Lagos Island was electric; streets overflowed with life as throngs of spectators, visitors, and residents converged on TBS. The city’s very air felt saturated with excitement, anticipation and cultural pride. 
But this was not just another event on the “Detty December” calendar. This year’s edition was epoch-making, the first in eight years, and a triumphant return of the people’s festival; a vibrant tapestry woven with tradition, history, emotion, and unmissable spectacle.
The sights, sounds and the spirit of Lagos peaked even at cockcrow. From the early hours of the morning, Lagos Island was electric; streets overflowed with life as throngs of spectators, visitors, and residents converged on TBS. The city’s very air felt saturated with excitement, anticipation and cultural pride.
At the centre of it all were the Eyo masquerades; regal, rhythmic and rooted deeply in Yoruba tradition. Clad in cascading white robes that swayed like waves, topped with colourful aga hats denoting group identities, and carrying the ceremonial staff known as Opambata, these ‘divine figures’ moved with purpose and grace. Goose-bumps-giving chants, rhythmic drums, and spirited dances filled the venue, turning the historic square into a roaring altar of heritage and joy.
This year’s festival was especially poignant, honouring prominent Lagos icons: the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji (mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu), Alhaji Lateef Jakande, General Mobolaji Johnson, and Sir Michael Otedola — leaders whose legacies helped shape the city’s cultural landscape.
TBS and its environs were dressed in aesthetic transformation and splendour. Every corner radiated tradition and celebration. Bright costumes shimmered in the Lagos sun, laughter echoed through the crowd, and even the legendary Lagos traffic seemed like part of the festival soundtrack — a living metaphor of a city that moves, lives and celebrates with relentless energy.
In true Lagos fashion, roads leading to TBS brimmed with people on foot, buses ferrying excited passengers, and the timeless hum of traders, tour groups and families who had come to witness a spectacle that transcended generations.
The festival reached its peak with notable dignitaries gracing the occasion with their distinguished presence. Number one of such is Nigeria’s president. His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He participated in the cultural procession, donning the symbolic attire and carrying the Opambata to make a stunning visual of tradition fused with contemporary Nigerian leadership.
Also present were community leaders, cultural ambassadors, government officials, and thousands of locals who had journeyed to Lagos Island to witness, honour, and belong. The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Aremu Akiolu, alongside Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, echoed a unified voice that culture is not only Lagos’ legacy but its future.
What made this festival truly remarkable was not just its return after almost a decade, but its reaffirmation of Lagos’ soul. It is a symbol of unity, identity and pride.
The Eyo Festival is more than lively drums and dazzling attire. It is a living tableau of Lagos’ history; a celebration of ancestry, community and spiritual continuity. It is a reminder that tradition, when honoured with reverence and joy, becomes a bridge between generations.
For Lagosians and visitors alike, it was a moment of pride, a day when time seemed to pause, and hearts collectively beat to the rhythm of culture. From the vibrant performances that echoed through TBS to the spectacular finale under the Lagos sky, the festival united strangers and friends, old and young, in a shared story of heritage and hope. It was indeed more than just a festival
As the year draws to a close, Lagos has once again demonstrated its unique blend of tradition, resilience, and cultural grandeur. From Tafawa Balewa Square to the hearts of millions watching across the world, the 2025 Eyo Festival will be remembered as a cultural milestone, a celebration of life, legacy, and community.
To all our cherished readers at www.openletter.com.ng, thank you for your support, your engagement, and your devotion to stories that speak to who we are. May your New Year be filled with purpose, and your spirit with the joy of belonging.
Happy New Year in advance!
