Ibadan TikToker performs rites after recording Oloolu masquerade procession

A TikTok content creator has become the centre of widespread attention after undergoing traditional cleansing rites following her recording of a procession associated with the annual Oloolu Festival in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The incident, which has generated intense debate on social media, followed the circulation of videos showing the woman participating in rituals at the Oloolu compound after she allegedly filmed a sacred aspect of the festival.

Clarifying the development, the spokesperson to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Chief Adeola Oloko, said the woman did not capture the revered Oloolu masquerade itself but mistakenly recorded Alawo Oloolu, a figure linked to the traditional festival.

According to Oloko, the footage was taken while the procession was moving through parts of Ibadan.

“She did not record Oloolu. She mistook Alawo for Oloolu. We contacted the Mogaji of the Oloolu compound, who confirmed that she filmed Alawo of Oloolu on the street,” he said.

He explained that after uploading the video online, the woman reportedly complained of a sudden health challenge, prompting her family to seek intervention from the custodians of the Oloolu tradition.

“After posting it, she noticed that the blood in her body began to dry up. Her family immediately contacted the Oloolu people, who attended to her in line with the customs of the land,” Oloko said.

He added that women are traditionally forbidden from viewing certain aspects of the Oloolu procession and urged residents to respect long-standing cultural practices.

Oloko, however, said he could not confirm reports circulating online that the woman disguised herself as a man to secretly record the procession, noting that the only verified information was that she took the footage on a public road.

Videos shared on social media showed the woman surrounded by traditional worshippers during what appeared to be a cleansing ceremony, while other clips suggested a goat was slaughtered as part of the rites.

Ibadan-based content creator Ayo Adams, who said he visited the Oloolu compound, claimed officials there confirmed that the woman was alive and recovering.

According to Adams, the woman reported feeling ill after recording the procession and was later taken, alongside her family, to the Oloolu compound where traditional rites were performed.

He added that the officials informed him she had since reunited with her family and was recovering.

When contacted, the Oyo State Police Command said it had no official record of the incident.

Police spokesperson Ayanlade Olayinka stated that the matter was not reported at any police station known to the command.

The Oloolu Festival is one of Ibadan’s prominent traditional celebrations, attracting worshippers, traditional rulers and cultural enthusiasts from across Yorubaland. The event features processions, drumming, prayers and other traditional rites aimed at honouring ancestors and promoting peace and prosperity.

Custodians of the festival have consistently maintained that some aspects of the celebration are governed by strict traditional taboos, including restrictions on photography and video recording.