Aramoko Ekiti, one of the ancient towns in Yorubaland, recently organised the 2nd edition of its Cultural Heritage Festival, where tourists saw culture at its best.
For five days in Ekiti State, tourism enthusiasts were treated to the best of African culture, foods and games. The 2018 edition of the Aramoko Cultural Heritage Festival (ARAHFEST), where contemporary and traditional carnival mixed with music fiesta and other side attractions like Beauty Pageant and traditional wrestling.
The 2018 ARAHFEST lived up to expectation, starting with a lecture delivered by a foremost Nigerian Professor of History, Ishola Olomola, who spoke on ‘The Place of Aramoko in the History of Yoruba race. The University don corroborated the declaration of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, that Aramoko’s place in Yoruba history can never be overlooked.
Early last year, Oba Ogunwusi, oversaw a colourful reunion ceremony that brought together Ajero of Ijero, Orangun of Ila and Alara of Aramoko. At the event, which was held at Alara’s palace, Oba Adegoke Olu-Adeyemi, Ooni reiterated the fact that Alara, Ajero and Orangun of Ila were brothers from Ooni’s palace, who left Ile Ife many centuries ago to settle where they are today.
“Alara, Ajero and Orangun are brothers, who shared same parents. As I speak, they still have their rooms in Ife palace. Immediately I was installed and I saw the record in the palace, I resolved in my mind to visit them and charge them not to allow modern civilization to shy them away from their traditional commitment to Ooni’s palace. Many youths of today, who hear Ifa priests and those who play traditional roles in Yoruba home videos, evoke power in the name of Alara, Ajero and Orangun, don’t know where it all started because of little or no effort to consolidate the relationship,”
At the ARAHFEST lecture, Prof. Olomola didn’t only confirm this but told Alara to keep the tempo as a foremost Yoruba Oba. He described Aramoko Ekiti as a unique town in Yoruba land that needed to be heard than it is currently.
To this end, the erudite scholar commended Aramoko Development Association for instituting the carnival, adding that it would further boost the relationship among the Yorubas and help Aramoko to maintain its status among the comity of towns and cities that made up the Yoruba Nation. While calling on Aramoko indigenes home and abroad to key into the event, the University don pointed out that any community that lost its culture has lost its identity.
In the afternoon of the first day of the one-week carnival, representatives of various quarters in Aramoko took part in traditional games of Ayo Olopon, Aarin and Okoto. The four quarters are; Oke Oja, Isasa, Anaye and Isao. At the end, Isasa came first in Arin game, followed by Isao, Oke Oja and Anaye accordingly. The table however turned in favour of Isao during the Ayo Olopon game as it came first, while Oke Oja, Anaye and Isasa took second, third and fourth positions respectively. The event was held at Aramoko Civic Center.
Two events; Traditional Foods and Drinks and Traditional Wrestling were held at Saint Stephen’s Primary School, Ijero Road, Aramoko Ekiti, on the second day. The four quarters prepared varieties of local and traditional foods and displayed them inside the stand of each of the quarters.
For tourists and natives, it was a moment of excitement as the array of foods paraded sent strong signals to all that Nigerians were fast moving away from their origin. The jurors, who were saddled with the responsibility to inspect and award marks during the cooking competition, admitted that the community had what Nigeria could market to the international community.
Some of the local delicacies prepared by various quarters are Iyan, Abari, Eegbo, Ojoojo, Epipa Ukoko, Otili and Feregede. Others are; Ogede Sisun and Igba_yinrin, Ogede Ititi, Ila Alasepo and Ewuro, Egunsi and Ewuro, Efo Riro, Emu Inu Akeregbe.
Olabode Ayodele from Isasa quarters and Olabisi Ajayi from Isao, who participated in Wrestling and cooking competitions respectively, spoke glowingly on their take-away from the two competitions.
Ayodele said: “When the idea was first mooted, it sounded unusual to me because we are used to watching modern wrestling on television. Therefore, I thought the local version was dead but as the competition gathered momentum, my mind went to my days in primary and secondary schools and my skill in wrestling resurfaced. I told our quarter’s trainer of my intention to participate. Today, as I did Isasa Quarters proud, I can only thank ADA for coming up with this and appeal Aramoko people home and abroad to join hand with the development association.”
For Olabisi Ajayi, who said her involvement in the cooking competition had further opened her eyes to some ancient foods, the cooking aspect was a good training platform for Aramoko ladies and visitors.
“Though born and bred in Aramoko, there are many of the foods cook here today that I have not seen in my life. I’m sure if any woman goes home to prepare any of the ancient food for her hubby, their marriage will be more solidified. What we see here has defeated the argument that Yorubas has no varieties like our Igbo brothers and sisters,” Ajayi said.
Though Saturday turned out to be the peak of the event, traditional and modern carnivals of Thursday and Friday were beautiful jamborees that opened up the entire town. It was a celebration of colours, costumes and dances.
The two days witnessed contemporary carnival, Miss Aramoko beauty pageant, Indigenous Heritage Carnival, Music Concert and acrobatic displays that took contingents round the major streets of the town.
A leading light of Yoruba Theater industry, 80 year-old Ayo Ogunshina, popularly known as Papalolo of the old Jesters International, which comprised Jacob, Papalolo, and Aderupoko, who spoke to journalists after the carnival described it as a reawakening event for lovers of Yoruba culture.
“I have not seen it this good in any town in Yoruba nation. Successfully, Aramoko people have set the pace by taking modern and traditional carnival a notch higher. Here, culture and tradition have simply mixed with glamour,”
Another juror, Pa Peter Fatomilola, also a household name in Nollywood, while appreciating the organisers called on government and corporate bodies to support Aramoko so that the carnival can be sustained.
“Aramoko is lucky to have someone like Prof. Rasaki Ojo-Bakare, the former Artistic Director of Abuja carnival as ARAHFEST Technical Director. In the last three days, I have witnessed what I have not seen anywhere in Nigeria. As a stakeholder in the Arts and Culture industry, I know it is capital intensive and that is why I’m calling on Federal and State Ministry of Information to partner the community and use ARAHFEST to showcase Nigeria. It is also my belief that the carnival can serve as a good platform for top players in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods sector of the economy to reposition their products,” he said.
Aside the carnivals, which involved all the quarters as contingents, various communities like the Igedes, the Igbos and the Hausas, who resident in Aramoko also displayed their culture as they paid homage to Oba Adeyemi during the ground finale.
As it happened last year, when an ‘A’ class musical jamboree was used to usher in the new Miss Aramoko, top Nigerian Artists also entertained guests at this year’s edition.
According to a top Nigerian actor, Taiwo Ibikunle, who compared at the event, there was huge improvement over last year’s edition of the carnival, which, according to him should be sustained in 2019.
“I can beat my chest that this year’s edition was bigger, stronger and more robust in terms of participation, costumes and entertainment. To say Aramoko people have set the pace is an understatement, the community has simply shown the way to the future,” Ibikunle said.
An Abuja based Artist, Femi Turaya, said he would from then on put it in his diary to be participating every year.
“I congratulate Aramoko people for the epoch event and I call on youths to see it as eye opener. In the last few days, I have seen talents being discovered, I have seen networking and I have seen a carnival that can successfully rival Calabar Festival or Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu Ode if well harnessed. As a musician, I want to see this as my own humble contribution to a community that wants to open up our arts and tourism sector and I will be coming every year to be part of it,” he said.
Another interesting part of the carnival was the process that led to the emergence of 24 year-old Oluwatobiloba Adeniran as the new Miss Aramoko. Beautiful Tobiloba, an undergraduate participated in 2017 but didn’t clinch the crown.
“After my last year’s participation, I took SWOT analysis of all that happened during the competition, from camping to the day of the show and took note of my weak points. With determination, coupled with experience, I entered for this year’s edition and Lo and behold! I emerged winner. It was a moment of joy and I appreciated the orgnisers and congratulate my other eight contestants.’
As Miss Aramoko, Tobiloba carted the first prize of a landed property and N20, 000 monthly allowances that would be paid for 12 months while the first and second runners up in the exercise also went home with a deep freezer and fridge respectively.
Speaking at the grand finale, Oba Adeyemi, the ADA President, Dr. Aladeloye, and the Cranival Director, Prof. Ojo Bakare, all echoed the fact that the community wanted to use the event to celebrate the rich culture of the Yoruba people, thereby setting the pace in the South West.
As happened last year when Gombe State Governor, a former Accountant General of the federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Damkabo was honoured with the chieftancy title of Atunluse of Aramoko Kingdom, this year, two prominent individuals, Otunba Olalekan Akinyele and Asiwaju Oyedeji Olajubu were honoured with the chieftaincy titles of The Atayese and The Akorewolu of Aramoko Kindom respectively.