It was a celebration of the Ejiwa Festival – a special cultural day. For the Ojora of Ijora Kingdom, Oba Abdul Fatai Aremu Oyeyinka Oyegbemi Aromire, and indigenes of the community, it was a day to appease God for the forgiveness of their sins, and pray for peace, progress and development of the kingdom and Lagos State.
The event was well-attended by the traditional rulers, political stalwarts and captains of industries across the country.
The Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and vigilante groups were on hand to ensure maximum security from the palace to the Ejiwa Shrine.
The shrine was jealously guided by the priests. Both men and women tied white traditional wrappers. The compound was fenced, and painted in white. The floor was not cemented, yet visitors were not allowed in with shoes.
The monarch, also dressed in white attire and white shoes, was ushered into the shrine by the traditional chiefs and received at the entrance by the priests who offered traditional prayers.
All groups, chiefs, women, including the children, paid homage to the king after he sat down.
Various ‘Oosa’ masquerades as they are fondly called, entertained the guests. They danced to the traditional rhythm of Sengbeto drums. All the Erelus remained standing when the beating was on and when any of the oosa was dancing.
The oba said, the event held yearly, was designed by the indigenes to celebrate their ancestors and appease God for the peace and progress of the community.
Underscoring the place of culture in social and economic well-being of the people, the monarch said Nigerians could not afford to downplay the role of culture in humanity, saying people and culture were interwoven.
He said they allowed their children to participate in the festival for its continuity. He noted that any feast that children did not participate in would not last.
He urged the Yoruba people to encourage, promote and preserve their culture for the benefit of the future generations.
Oba Ojora said the greatest thing that binds Yorubaland is culture. He urged Yoruba and other tribes to preserve their culture so that it can be transferred to the next generation.
Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi and Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Oba Semiu Orimadegun Kasali, hailed the Oba Ojora for allowing continuity of culture within his domain.
The monarchs appealed to Nigerians to guard against acts that could cause conflicts within the African traditional culture.
They appealed to the government to the promote culture, stressing that that such contributions would boost socio-economic growth.
The monarchs advised the people to promote their traditions and encourage their children to embrace it.
“It is of utmost importance for parents and the older generation to teach and promote our culture, customs and practices to the younger generations. This is to help preserve such practices and retain the rich cultural heritage of our great land,” they said.
Ojora community celebrates festival in style
