TikToker Wasilat Olalere has publicly denied allegations that she secretly recorded the annual Oloolu masquerade festival in Ibadan, Oyo State. She also dismissed claims circulating on social media that she had died as a result of the incident, asserting that she is alive, hale and hearty.
Denial on Live Radio
Speaking during an interview on Lagelu FM’s Ibi Aye N Lo programme, Wasilat said the claims on social media are false, insisting that she never recorded the revered masquerade. “I am not dead. I did not record the Oloolu masquerade. May I never be implicated in such a thing because I did not film Oloolu,” she said.
Recounting the Incident
Wasilat recounted what happened on the day of the incident, explaining that she was at home before deciding to visit her family’s shop in the Oremeji area. “What happened that day, last Thursday, around the Oremeji axis, I don’t know what prompted me to go to our shop because I was at home. When I got to the shop, I didn’t even open it. I just stayed in front of the shop because we had packed up from that area.”
She added, “When I saw people passing, I saw an Amotekun vehicle passing. Oloolu did not even pass through that route. I only recorded what I saw and uploaded it on TikTok. People in the comment section immediately asked me to delete the video which I did. The following day, some people came to meet me at the shop.”
Traditional Rites Performed
Following the incident, Wasilat was taken to Ode Aje, where prescribed traditional appeasement rites were carried out in response to allegations that she had filmed the sacred Oloolu masquerade. The traditionalists dressed her in red attire and shaved her hair during the rites. A goat was also slaughtered as part of the ceremony.
Cultural Sensitivity and Social Media
The incident highlights the deep cultural sensitivity surrounding the Oloolu masquerade, which is considered sacred in Oyo State. The swift reaction from the community underscores the importance of respecting traditional customs and the potential consequences of violating them.
Wasilat’s denial and the subsequent rites illustrate the tension between modern social media practices and traditional beliefs. Her experience serves as a cautionary tale for others who might inadvertently offend cultural norms while sharing content online.
