A female TikTok content creator has become the centre of widespread attention after reportedly undergoing traditional cleansing rites following the recording of a procession linked to the 2026 Oloolu Masquerade Festival in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Videos circulating on social media showed the woman participating in what appeared to be a traditional cleansing ceremony at the Oloolu compound, sparking debate over cultural practices and the restrictions surrounding the revered festival.
Speaking on the incident, the spokesperson to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Adeola Oloko, clarified that the woman did not record the sacred Oloolu masquerade itself. According to him, she mistakenly filmed Alawo Oloolu, a figure associated with the Oloolu tradition, while the procession was moving through parts of Ibadan.
Oloko explained that shortly after posting the footage online, the woman reportedly developed health complications, prompting her family to seek help from the traditional custodians of the festival.
“She did not capture Oloolu; she mistook it for Alawo. After posting it, she realised the blood in her body began to dry. Her family immediately contacted the Oloolu people, who attended to her in line with the tradition of the land,” he said.
He added that women are traditionally prohibited from viewing certain aspects of the Oloolu procession and urged members of the public to respect the customs and guidelines associated with the annual festival. However, he said he could not confirm social media claims that the woman disguised herself as a man to secretly record the event.
The viral videos showed the content creator with her head shaved and dressed in red attire while participating in traditional rites. Social media users also claimed that sacrificial items, including a ram, a goat and giant African snails, were presented during the ceremony, although these claims have not been independently verified.
Ibadan-based content creator Ayo Adams said he visited the Oloolu compound, where officials confirmed that the woman was alive and recovering. According to him, she had reportedly approached security operatives after experiencing health concerns, after which she and her family were taken to the Oloolu compound to perform rites prescribed by the traditional custodians.
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 annual Oloolu Festival is one of Ibadan’s prominent cultural celebrations, attracting traditional rulers, worshippers and visitors from across Yorubaland. While many aspects of the festival are open to the public, custodians of the tradition maintain strict rules prohibiting the photographing or recording of certain sacred processions and rituals.
