A female TikTok content creator at the centre of the controversy surrounding this year’s Oloolu Festival in Ibadan has denied claims that she recorded the sacred Oloolu masquerade, insisting she was wrongly accused and never violated the revered traditional practice.
The woman, identified as Wasilat, also dismissed widespread rumours that she had died following the incident. Speaking publicly for the first time, she said she is alive and urged Nigerians to ignore the false reports circulating on social media.
According to her, the video she posted did not show the Oloolu masquerade but only captured people moving along the road and an Amotekun security vehicle. She maintained that the sacred masquerade never passed through the area where she recorded the footage.
Wasilat said she was surprised when social media users began accusing her of filming the masquerade and demanded that she remove the video. She added that she later met traditional representatives who informed her of the controversy surrounding the recording.
The spokesperson to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Adeola Oloko, supported her explanation, stating that she did not record the sacred Oloolu masquerade. Instead, he said she mistakenly filmed Alawo Oloolu, a traditional figure associated with the festival, leading to the misunderstanding.
Traditional custodians explained that after the incident, the woman and her family visited the Oloolu family compound, where she underwent traditional cleansing rites in line with local customs. She later deleted the video and apologised over the misunderstanding.
The incident attracted widespread attention after videos of the traditional rites surfaced online, while unverified claims on social media alleged that the TikToker had died. Those reports have now been dismissed by both the woman and traditional authorities.
The controversy has continued to generate debate over the balance between preserving cultural traditions and the growing influence of social media, with traditional leaders urging members of the public to respect customs observed during the annual Oloolu Festival.