First Term Lesson Note for Week Five.
Class : Primary One
Subject : History
Topic : Festivals in Lagos State.
Duration : 40 Minutes
Period : Single Period
Reference Book :
History for Nigerian Primary Schools, Book 1.
Lagos State Unified schemes of work for lower Primary, (Primary 1 – 3).
Online Resources
Instructional Material : Chart showing the meaning of festivals and examples of festivals.
Learning Objectives : By the end of the lesson learners will be able to :
i. Define Festivals.
ii. Identify the types of festivals in Lagos State.
iii. Explains briefly the festivals and how it originated
Content :
Festivals are religious ceremonies often celebrated by the people. They are the periods of celebrating something important religiously in the lives of the people once in a year.
However, each territory, region, area or environment has a peculiar festival they celebrate, which is different from others. For instance, the argungu festival in Kebbi, Durbar in Kano (northern Nigeria), New yam festivals in South Eastern, Egungun festival in Ogun and most Southwestern states.
Lagos State has some of it own peculiar festivals, which are not found in other southwest regions. These includes the Eyo festival (Ádámù Orisha), Kayo Kayo, and Egungun festival.
Eyo festival is popularly known as Ádámù Orisha, which is a traditional festival found on Lagos Island area in Lagos State. The Eyo dressed in costume with white robe and covers their faces with shoil and put of a heart. In their hand is a palm frond branches or staff called “Opanbata”.
Eyo festival was originally traditionally held during the burial of a notable Lagosian, to escort the soul of the departed, especially kings and chiefs as well as ushering in a new king to the throne. Eyo was first held on 1854 to commemorate the life of Oba Akitoye. Since then, the festival takes place whenever traditions and occasions demand it.
Kayo-kayo is a religious and cultural festival in Lagos State, celebrated annually by the descendants of Kosoko for the historical arrival of King Kosoko in Epe in 1851, where he was exiled and banished from Lagos after his dethronement by Akitoye and the British forces. Kayo-kayo is used to celebrate Kosoko in Epe with large entourage.
Kayo-kayo is synonymous with the Epe community of Lagos State. It is usually celebrated on the 10th day after the Islamic calendar celebration (Muharram Islamic calendar) the month of Eid-el-Kabir celebration. It is a week long festival celebrations with fashion parades, health awareness and cultural displays to promote the economy as well as discussing socio-economic challenges.
Egungun Festival is celebrated throughout the Yorubaland as a masquerade for ancestor reverence. Egungun is a manifestation of the spirits departed ancestors who periodically revisits the human community for remembrance celebrations and blessings. They are also called “Ara Orun”.
Egungun Festival is celebrated annually and has successfully been passed from one generation to another. It takes place for several days and it is believed to promote trade and commerce and brings strong family bond among the Yoruba people irrespective of religious beliefs.
Presentation Steps :
Step 1 : Revision of the previous lesson with the learners by asking them questions.
Step 2 : Introduces the new topic by defining festivals and give examples
Step 3 : Identify some of the festivals celebrated in Lagos State.
Step 4 : Explains the importance of each festivals celebrated in Lagos State and how it originated.
Evaluation :
1. Ẹyọ Festival was First celebrated in Lagos in ___________. (a) 1851 (b) 1855 (c) 1854
2. Kayo-kayo festival is synonymous to the people of __________ in Lagos State. (a) Awori (b) Epe (c) Eguns
3. Kayo-kayo began in ___________. (a) 1851 (b) 1855 (c) 1861
4. Ẹyọ Festival is also known as __________. (a) Egungun (b) Adamu Orisa (c) Kayo-kayo
5. Ẹyọ masqurades do not cross rivers. (a) True (b) False
6. Kosoko arrived in Epe in 1861. (a) True (b) False
7. Ẹyọ is originally meant to be held as burial rites of important Lagosians. (a) True (b) False
8. Egungun festivals is all about the celebrations of ______________. (a) Kings (b) spiritual ancestors (c) deities
Conclusion : At the end of the lesson learners were able to answer the questions correctly.
Assignment :
1. What are festivals?
______________________________________________________________________________________
2. List any two festivals celebrations on Lagos state.
i. ____________________________________
ii. ___________________________________
3. What is the major purpose of the Egungun festival in Lagos State?
______________________________________________________________________________________
4. What is Kayo-kayo?