Awon Mass Wedding Festival is one such festival in the north-central region of Nigeria that a lot of people look forward to and attend. The festival has many features which are rich in oral tradition and tourist events deployable for modern cultural entertainment.
It’s happening in Shao, Ilorin, Moro local government area of Kwara State. It’s a colourful dance and folk songs traditional festival where all the mature ladies are given out in marriage at the same time.
Historically, the festival is said to have emanated from a woman called ‘Awon’ who mysteriously appeared to a hunter and claimed the ownership of a small stream from which he had been drinking water each time he went hunting.
After a while, she requested to be taken to the first Ohoro of Shao. After a series of meetings with the Ohoro and his chiefs, she disappeared. But before then, she handed a charm to them asking that the settlement be renamed after her as Shao Awon.
She further instructed the people to always set aside one day in a year to observe her visit and conduct a mass wedding for all mature ladies on the same day. Ever since then, Awon Mass Wedding has become a ritual and part of the culture of the Shao community.
The tradition states that the husbands of the mature ladies do not attend the grand finale. The festival is always graced by Ohoro, Queen, Chiefs, Guests, Tourists and Government Officials from all over Nigeria.
The mature ladies do appear fully dressed in Yoruba attire (Aso Oke) each holding an umbrella singing and dancing. They usually dance round the event ground and finally led to their seats.
This is amazing. You may want to experience this festival and see with your eye how it’s been done, you’re most welcome.
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