Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has condemned the spiritual cleansing carried out on a TikToker identified as Wasilat, who was accused of filming the sacred Oloolu Masquerade during its annual festival in Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to reports, Wasilat allegedly disguised herself as a man to record the revered masquerade despite repeated warnings that women were forbidden from seeing or filming the procession.

She was later said to have experienced unexplained bleeding and emotional distress, prompting traditional custodians of the Oloolu shrine to conduct a cleansing ritual. Videos circulating online showed traditionalists shaving her hair as part of the ceremony.

Reacting to the incident, Sowore argued that while culture plays an important role in society, any tradition that promotes oppression, discrimination, or gender-based exclusion should be abandoned.

In a statement shared online, he wrote:

“I learned today that a TikToker underwent a traditional ‘cleansing’ ritual after filming an Oloolu masquerade procession.

While culture occupies a vital place in our lives, any cultural practice that is oppressive, discriminatory, or insensitive to gender should be abandoned immediately.

Wasila was ultimately abused and stripped of her dignity by the very people who are often quick to condemn others for engaging in similar acts.

It does not matter who carries out such abuse. Any culture, tradition, or belief system that violates human dignity is unacceptable and has no place in a just society.”

Sowore’s comments have sparked widespread debate online, with some defending the preservation of cultural traditions, while others agreed that practices perceived to undermine human rights and dignity should be re-examined.