Tradition Clashes With Modernity As TikToker Experiences Traditional Cleansing After Filming Oloolu Masquerade Procession

The incident, which has gone viral on social media, sparked widespread debate after videos showed the woman undergoing traditional cleansing rites at the Oloolu compound.

The spokesperson of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Chief Adeola Oloko, who spoke with a national newspaper, said the woman did not record the sacred Oloolu masquerade itself but filmed Alawo Oloolu, a figure associated with the Oloolu tradition.

He said the traditional custodians confirmed that the woman captured the procession as it passed through the Ibadan axis.

Oloko said, “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.

The spokesperson added that not long after uploading the footage, the woman reportedly developed unusual health challenges, prompting her family to seek help from the traditional custodians.

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

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

Oloko, however, said he could not verify claims circulating on social media that the woman disguised herself as a man to record the procession secretly.

‎“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 added.

Videos circulating online appeared to show a traditional cleansing ceremony, with Wasilat surrounded by traditional worshippers.

She was seen with her head shaved, dressed in red garments and participating in rituals, while giant African snails and a ram were reportedly presented as part of the prescribed rites.

‎Another video showed that a goat was slaughtered and its blood used during the cleansing ritual.

‎An Ibadan-based content creator, Ayo Adams, on X on Monday claimed he visited the Oloolu compound and said officials confirmed the woman was alive and recovering.

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

‎“Last Thursday, Wasilat discreetly recorded Oloolu’s crowd in the 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.

“The police took her and her family to Oloolu’s compound to perform the necessary rites to restore her health to normalcy.

‎“As part of the rites, she was seen circling around the Ogun shrine located within Oloolu’s compound. The secretary of the compound confirmed that the lady has reunited with her family and is currently recovering,” Adams wrote on X.

The development is a lesson in respecting tradition and adhering to instructions tied to the land’s customs and traditions.

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 while seeking peace, protection, prosperity and communal well-being.

‎Unlike many public masquerade festivals, the Oloolu tradition is regarded by its custodians as one surrounded by strict taboos, including restrictions on photographing or recording certain aspects of the procession.

‎It was gathered that the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland had released the movement schedule for the 2026 Oloolu Masquerade Festival, detailing the communities the masquerade visited between July 28 and July 30.