ileya | Zikoko!

‘Tis the season for ram meat.

The Eid al-Adha (aka Sallah/Ileya) holiday is this weekend, and we have assembled a panel of Nigerian Muslims to help you plan this holiday. Some of the people we spoke to are regular outsiders, while others like to spend time locked away inside. So, however you like to celebrate, there is some inspiration for you.

These 8 Nigerians have offered their tried-and-tested tips on what to do, watch, and even reflect during this holy holiday.

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“No movie during the holiday. I will be fully outside” — Taiwo, Ijebu Isiwo, Ogun.

What to Watch: Watch ke? No movie during the holiday. I will be fully outside.
What to Read: There is no time for reading and watching. It is too big to be reading.
What to Listen To: K1 De Ultimate’s full catalogue
What to Eat: Amala and ram meat. It’s the best food for the event, if you ask me. That is what we offer our guests.
What to Do: I’m going to turn into a butcher boy. We are killing rams for three days, starting with a cow on Friday.

“You should definitely read the Quran and reflect” — Monsurah, Surulere, Lagos.

What to Watch: I get that it’s the season of Eid and we’re meant to be holy and stuff, but watching Kdrama won’t be a bad idea, to be honest. You could watch Squid Game if you haven’t seen it. Season 3 is coming out soon, so it’s perfect.
What to Read: You should definitely read the Quran and reflect on the meaning and significance of Eid.
What to Listen To: Podcasts about Eid and how to navigate the new year. Omar Suleiman’s podcast should do the trick.
What to Eat: Eid is a time to be merry, and it’s for Celebration, and it’s the season of meat, so definitely meat and more meat with a sprinkle of Jollof rice and more meat 🌚.
What to Do: Go for Eid prayer, celebrate with family, invite friends over and bond/reminisce over a bowl of meat.

“A Muslim podcast on the significance of Eid won’t be bad” — Mujeeb, Surulere, Lagos.

What to Watch: There’s nothing to watch on Eid Day. Because, right from when you wake up till maybe night, it’s either you’re up to one thing or the other.
What to Read: Maybe some Quranic verses, if you really have the time.
What to Listen To: There are many parties, so most likely the music from the party or something. But a Muslim podcast on the significance of Eid won’t be bad, and it’s highly recommended.
What to Eat: Meat, Meat, and Meat.
What to Do: There will surely be things to do right from when you go for Eid till you get back. You’ll either be coordinating, attending to people, taking pictures.

“When things are quieter, I’ll switch to 38 Letters from Rockefeller to His Son” — Basit, Ikosi Ketu, Lagos.

What to Watch: I hope I will be able to go to the Cinema to watch Ori Rebirth by Muyiwa Ademola. If not, I’ll stay indoor to watch Promised Hearts on Netflix. It’s been on my watchlist for a while, and Eid feels like the perfect time to finally dive into it. I also want to complete the remaining episodes of Unseen on Netflix.
What to Read: Eid morning is a perfect time to start with something spiritual, so I intend to read the Qur’an early in the day. Later in the afternoon, when things are quieter, I’ll switch to 38 Letters from Rockefeller to His Son, a thought-provoking read about success, legacy, and values.
What to Listen To: I have downloaded some Omar Sulaiman lectures on YouTube and planned listen to few of them on that day. I also enjoy I said What I said Podcast, so I will listen to it as well.
What to Eat: Lots of Meat and Ice Cream. The well-fried meat is an integral part of the celebration. I am going to eat as much as I can, but I have to be careful not to overeat, though 😢.
What to Do: I’ll probably spend time scrolling through WhatsApp statuses and Twitter, admiring everyone’s stunning Eid outfits and family photos. It is the day people almost forget about praying Solat because of too many activities, so I will make sure not to forget to pray at the right time. It is customary for me to read books on Eid Day, even if it is just a few pages, so I will continue reading the book I am on. I will also make sure to call my family and friends to greet them for Eid.

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ALSO READ: 120+ Sallah Wishes For Your Loved Ones During Eid

“I’m not a fan of reading during the festive period” — Adeyinka, Surulere, Lagos.

What to Watch: Your Friends & Neighbours is a good watch for the season. Sallah’s that one time when you’re particularly invested in what your neighbours are up to; doesn’t matter whether they’re Christian or Muslim. You just want to know where the party’s at. Well, that’s sort of the tea in the series, except it comes with a thieving neighbour. It’s available to stream on Apple TV.
What to Read: I’m not a fan of reading during festive periods. I think there are too many activities going on all around that just get you distracted. But if you must read something, I’ll suggest Michael Afenfia’s The Mechanics of Yenagoa. It’s a real page-turner that’ll crack you up in the most unexpected way.
What to Listen To: You definitely want to revisit the classics this time. The Wasiu Ayinde albums from the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Throw in some Haruna Ishola and Ayinla Omowura as well. These songs really do set the mood for a nostalgic festive season.
What to Eat: Everything but meat. Wild right? But here’s the thing: you’ll set yourself up for tooth and jaw aches if you munch on every fried meat that comes your way. The key is storing it up in your freezer and slowly eating your way through your starch. So, more turkey and fish!
What to Do: Go outside. This is the big Sallah. You’re not expected to stay indoors and sulk all day. If you’ve got Muslim neighbours or family celebrating, visit and offer some help. They’ll remember you when it’s time to distribute sallah meat.

“Beyonce. No bad music from Bea” — Mariam, Oba-Oke, Osun.

Watch To Watch: The Life List, Kim’s Convenience. They’re not new, but they’re good. Both on Netflix.
What to Read: Dream Count. It’s what I am reading at the moment.
What to Listen to: Beyonce. No bad music from Bea.
What to Eat: loaded fries from Sooya Bistro. Ate it and loved it
What to Do: Sleep. You sef don try.

“Omo, there is no reading here. Eid is not for reading” — Idris, Yaba, Lagos.

What to Watch: I’m going to the cinema to watch the latest Yoruba movie.
What to Read: Omo, there is no reading here. Eid is not for reading.
What to Listen To: If I were to be honest, there is no particular song to listen to. We are just doing DJ.
What to Eat: 12 pieces of meat per cup of rice.
What to Do: Listen to music and spend time with family. A lot of family gossip to catch up with.

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“Zobo, juice or tigernut drink to pair with homemade small chops or meat pies” — Aisha, Gbagada, Lagos

What to Watch: Barakah Meets Barakah (Saudi rom-com; sweet, funny, and a light watch with a cultural touch), The Secret of the Nile (for something more dramatic and immersive, it’s Egyptian and gorgeous), Muslim YouTube vloggers who document their Eid mornings, it’s oddly comforting and nostalgic.
What to Read: Season of Crimson Blossoms by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim; intense and tender Nigerian storytelling, Letters to a Young Muslim by Omar Saif Ghobash; reflective and thoughtful, perfect for the Eid spirit, or revisit parts of the Quran or Hadith if you’re in a spiritual mode.
What to Listen To: Yusuf / Cat Stevens – “Peace Train” or Maher Zain – “Ya Nabi Salam Alayka” — feel-good Eid tunes. Afrobeats Nigerian playlists for festive vibes. Eid playlists on Spotify (there are curated mixes that mix tradition with vibe).
What to Eat: Ram Suya (always and forever). Fried rice and jollof, and of course, fried ram meat. Zobo, juice or tigernut drink to pair with homemade small chops or meat pies.
What to Do: Visit family and friends. Eid is for community, connection, and joy. Give out food or money to those in need (zakat al-fitr vibes, even after Ramadan). Dress up! Go out, take nice photos, post a little, joy is meant to be shared. Eid is a reward after a long period of reflection and self-restraint, so I always feel it should be soft, joyful, communal, and filled with love. Whether people are spending it with family, alone, or abroad, it’s a chance to reconnect with joy in a very intentional way.

ALSO READ: Celebrate Eid With These Books by and About Muslims

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Have you run out of inspiration for what to wear this Eid? Is your choice of Ileya outfit basic AF? Is your Nigerian tailor showing you the same styles you’ve worn for five Sallah celebrations? You’re in luck if you answered yes to any of these questions. We asked DALL-E 3 to design Ileya outfits for Muslim men and women, and we can’t help but agree that AI knows ball.

Ileya outfits for men

As a man, don’t listen to people who say you don’t have to do much to make an impression. If you want the compliments to roll in this Eid, start with these DALL-E 3 inspirations:

Short-sleeve agbada

Rock this agbada style on Eid, and everyone will ask for your tailor’s number.

Beaded jalabiya

For most Nigerian Muslims, jalabiya is a basic Ileya outfit that screams low effort. But not if you rock this type with beaded embroidery. This style is heavy on the crown prince energy.

Simple black jalabiya

One good thing about black jalebia is that they’ll withstand all the stains that come your way. Just make sure you pair them with a nice cap that completes your look.

Kimono x tunic combo

Now, this is a look that’ll surely make you stand out at the Eid prayer ground. From the Mama-Africa-themed cap to the tassels and kimono, AI ate.

Metallic silk tunic

This metallic silk outfit screams rich uncle. If you wear it, ensure your pocket is lined with crisp notes because the kids will ask for Sallah money.

Embroidered guinea brocade

The good ol’ guinea brocade doesn’t disappoint. You can ask your tailor to throw in some Ankara fabric for extra pizzazz.

Agbada with cape

This agbada low-key gives off graduation gown vibes, but it’s definitely not your regular style, so yes, to it.

Jalabiya with mini cape

This style works better without the mini cape. AI didn’t eat with this one sha.

Senator x ankara combo

Not a fan of embroidery? You should get your Nigerian tailor to play around with ankara fabric. It’s not a bad look.

Embroidered kaftan

There’s no escaping being called a “Yoruba demon” if you show up looking this good for Ileya. Also, this style looks easy peasy for Nigerian tailors.

Ileya outfits for women

Whether you’re going for rich aunty or oga’s wife, DALL-E 3 says these are the Ileya outfits that should be on your radar.

Ankara abaya

If you don’t have a minimum of ₦25k-₦50k for a ready-made abaya, show your Nigerian tailor this style. It does the job and costs less.

Simple floral gown

This is a nice option to wear after you return from the Eid prayer ground. Just make sure you’re not doing any heavy cooking or lifting.

Kimono abaya with rhinestones

If you wear this, just expect everyone in your neighbourhood to bill you.

Bedazzled abaya

Nothing screams rich aunty more than abaya styles with stone embroidery. Rock this one, and you’ll light up any room you enter.

Full-length gown with headgear

This abstract art-inspired Ileya outfit is perfect for corporate girlies who like to keep it smart and classy even during celebrations. That belt detail killed this look.

Abaya with a cape

Is it me, or does the cape low-key make this look like a bridal outfit? It’s still a real serve if you wear this for Ileya.

Two-piece set

Something about this outfit leans heavily towards “oga wife” and “rich aunty”.

Chiffon abaya with hijab

Rock this if you’re a hijab-wearing sister who wants to switch things up a bit for Ileya.

Two-piece chiffon set

This might not be appropriate for the Eid prayer ground, but it’s something you can rock when you return home.

Jalabiya dress with mini hijab

Just in case you’re in the mood to twin with your habibi.

Enjoyed this piece about Ileya outfits? Read this next: What’s It Like Marking Sallah Without a Ram? — We Asked These Muslims
Sallah is mostly about dressing peng and killing innocent rams for enjoyment.

Are you getting any share of this Ileya meat? Take this quiz and we’ll tell you:
Ileya, also called Eid-el Kabir or ram Sallah is a great time to connect with family and friends over juicy pieces of fried ram. As with other things, women have a specific experience of Ileya that is often missing from the conversation. In this article, eight Nigerian women talk about celebrating Ileya.

Farida, 26

I’ve spent most of the Eid holidays alone, and I no longer remember what it was like to spend it with family. I like being alone. I miss my family sometimes but I love that I can plan my own day and decide if I want to sleep in or hang out with friends. There is no pressure to do chores or cook or interact with relatives I’m not interested in engaging with.

Fatimah, 30

Ileya, for me, is a day of festivities. Before I got married I used to get nagged about not being interested in supervising the cooking. This will be my third Eid as a married woman. The first one, we spent it with an aunt. Last year, we had guests over. I supervised the caterers and attended to the guests. It was nothing overwhelming.

For this Eid, I contracted a caterer and my domestic assistant did the final shopping today. My husband supervises the slaughtering and cutting of the ram as well as drinks while I supervise cooking and serving. It’s pretty chill.

Nene, 23

My favourite thing about Ileya is the meat but it comes with a lot of work — I am always tired. I can’t just go out to celebrate with my friends because I’m expected to be at home cooking and cleaning.

Hauwa, 23

Ileya is exciting for me as a woman. I especially like the beauty rituals that come with it — henna, making new hair and wearing brand new clothes. In my house, we slaughter two rams and one cow. You can imagine the amount of work that goes into it, but even that is fun.

The entire family gathers in the backyard to share the work. My dad, brother and uncles do the slaughtering, flaying and cutting the meat. My mum, my sister and I cook the food. While we are working, my parents tell us stories and there’s a lot of laughter. Sometimes though, it gets hectic even though we hire extra hands. I remember one year we were so overwhelmed with work during the first day of Ileya that we didn’t even have time to dress up and look good until the next day.

Lamide, 26

When I was younger, Ileya meant work. We couldn’t afford to outsource the cooking so we did ourselves. By the end of the day, we would all be so tired and stressed.

But after I turned 21, things got slightly better. I had a say in how much work I was willing to do. It’s still a lot of cooking and cleaning but it is better than it was. For example, for this Ileya, I am supervising the cooking and washing plates if need be. We have a caterer that comes to help. My favourite thing about Ileya is the gisting with older aunties that come around.

Muslimah, 23

When I was young, Ileya was the time I got to visit my aunty and spend time with her children. As I grew older, Ileya changed. Now, I assume the role of a full-time chef, cooking for the whole family. I spend the entire day in the kitchen from morning till night — I only get to take a break during prayer time.

My favourite thing about Ileya is that every member of my family gets to bond with each other. I am from a polygamous family so Ileya is a special time for us because we get to bond with each other. My step-siblings and their children come to visit and we gist and talk about everything.

I am not spending Ileya with my family this year because I am in school and I am pissed about that because no matter how stressful that day is for me, I still love to celebrate it with my family.

Zee, 24

I always look forward to Eid because it was one of the few times growing up that my dad wouldn’t object to me wearing makeup. I loved the clothes and the henna. I also love how excited I always was helping my mum put on her necklace and doing my eyebrows at the same time.

I absolutely hated the later part of the day when visitors start coming and my sister and I were expected to serve and entertain guests (often older men). In the kitchen, we had to tend to the ever-growing mountains of plates and in the living room, there were so many pointless conversations waiting to happen.

Hadiza, 31

Ileya is a good time for me. A lot of people like the party and pomp of Eid but I try to keep it quiet for me and my daughter because sometimes it’s just two of us. I guess all the stress of Ileya growing up has made me too tired to do anything big. I outsource the cutting and cleaning of the ram when I cook. Other times, I eat out and sleep for the rest of the day.

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QUIZ: How Will You Spend Sallah?

Will you spend sallah with your family or will you spend it hunting for meat?

Take the quiz to find out.

“No movie during the holiday. I will be fully outside” — Taiwo, Ijebu Isiwo, Ogun.

“You should definitely read the Quran and reflect” — Monsurah, Surulere, Lagos.

“A Muslim podcast on the significance of Eid won’t be bad” — Mujeeb, Surulere, Lagos.

“When things are quieter, I’ll switch to 38 Letters from Rockefeller to His Son” — Basit, Ikosi Ketu, Lagos.

Get More Zikoko Goodness in Your Mail

ALSO READ: 120+ Sallah Wishes For Your Loved Ones During Eid

“I’m not a fan of reading during the festive period” — Adeyinka, Surulere, Lagos.

“Beyonce. No bad music from Bea” — Mariam, Oba-Oke, Osun.

“Omo, there is no reading here. Eid is not for reading” — Idris, Yaba, Lagos.

“Zobo, juice or tigernut drink to pair with homemade small chops or meat pies” — Aisha, Gbagada, Lagos

ALSO READ: Celebrate Eid With These Books by and About Muslims

Ileya outfits for men

Short-sleeve agbada

Beaded jalabiya

Simple black jalabiya

Kimono x tunic combo

Metallic silk tunic

Embroidered guinea brocade

Agbada with cape

Jalabiya with mini cape

Senator x ankara combo

Embroidered kaftan

Ileya outfits for women

Ankara abaya

Simple floral gown

Kimono abaya with rhinestones

Bedazzled abaya

Full-length gown with headgear

Abaya with a cape

Two-piece set

Chiffon abaya with hijab

Two-piece chiffon set

Jalabiya dress with mini hijab

Farida, 26

Fatimah, 30

Nene, 23

Hauwa, 23

Lamide, 26

Muslimah, 23

Zee, 24

Hadiza, 31

QUIZ: How Will You Spend Sallah?

“When things are quieter, I’ll switch to ***38 Letters from Rockefeller to His Son*” — Basit, Ikosi Ketu, Lagos.**