Last Saturday, indigenes of Ado Ekiti converged on the palace of their monarch, Ewi, to usher in their traditional New Year with the celebration of the Udiroko Festival. It was a celebration of their rich culture and tradition. SULAIMAN SALAWUDEEN was there.
Udiroko, the prime festival and traditional ‘new year day’ of the people of Ado Ekiti was held last Saturday within the sprawling precincts of the palace of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III, the culmination of a weeklong series of exercises involving rites meant to sanctify the town anew for its teeming indigenes and residents.
The annual festival is a usual place to be for many a dignitary and enthusiastic resident who normally turned out in their bests to grace an event which was attracting notable acclaim perhaps earlier than most might have imagined possible few years back.
It was an occasion for indigenes of the town the world over to convoke at the high walled, high gated palace to assess the town’s attainments in the outgoing year and chart a new path if needed to consolidate progress for the prospective years.
Men and women, young and old, across religions, professions and political divides, indigenes and non indigenes alike, dressed in their bests and converged on the palace as early as 12 noon this considerably clement Saturday.
Amid the canons which might have rumbled a minimum of a thousand times were persistent renditions of classical Ekiti songs by three stationary music groups within the sprawling palace complex.
Traditional caps and head-ties adorned heads of scores of male and female dignitaries who came soon enough not only to secure spaces within rows of seats neatly arranged under canopies festooned in attractive flowers but to partake with observable enthusiasm in the succeeding successive rituals and blessings of the day.
Various traditional groups which sprang from both familiar and less familiar Yoruba deities were seen dressed in trademark outfits of their groups, dancing and singing rich traditional songs as they approached the palace.
One such was Orisa Ojido (Ojido deity), said to be the head of all deities in Ado kingdom among which was Orisa Osun (Osun deity). Two Sango dance groups equally entertained in quick succession, with stunts and fireworks which left many wondering.
Seated under the covered enclosures were various classes of ranking communities’ and other traditional chiefs distinguished in their uniformed apparels, joined by whole legion of dignitaries who radiated class and authority even while sharing community with lesser mortals.
As they sat in groups, one could distinguish one community from the other: The Elumo Chiefs; Agba Oke Ewi; Agba Odo Ado; Oke Ila Chiefs; Omo Owa Chiefs; Elegbe Chiefs; The Elerinmarun Oke Ewi; The Traditional Policemen (Efas); The Egbe Omo Ewi; and several others.
Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion included the state governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, Niger state governor, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu represented by Dr. Seriki Saleh Peter, Commissioner Lands and Housing, former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet, Senator Fatimat Raji Rasak, Senator Bode Ola and Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.
Others are Pa Francis Famuagun, the father of late former deputy governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Edward Mafuyai, Dr. Tunde Akindele, Associate Professor of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and Chief M.O. Babatunde, Commissioner in Old Ondo State.
Monarchs at the event included the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye, Alaporu of Ilaporu Ijebu, Oba Jimoh Adebamiro Quadri and Sopin Lukale of Okesopin, Ijebu Igbo, Oba Muftau Adesesan Yusuf.
After a long wait, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, the chief celebrant, came out of the recess, decked in Agbada, Buba and Sokoto, all richly embroidered in attractive colours. Atop the entire frame was a crown of beads which fell over his face, making an ocular peep difficult for those who might wish to know the face behind the beaded veil but not familiar with this nature of appearance.
Prayers and benedictions soon came copiously from the monarch himself for obedient subjects who took turns, as the names of their communities and groups were called to pay homage, kneeling, prostrating, assuming whatever form and shape that lent eloquent reverence to the revered ancestry of the town, as symbolised by the monarch who in turn dished benedictions upon benedictions on the subjects who studiously respected ancient royalty, a phase which lasted nearly two hours.
In his brief speech, the governor-elect expressed his gratitude to the people of the state for their support during the recent governorship poll in the state in which he clinched victory, promising to offer them quality leadership.
According to Fayose, the poll strength of Ado-Ekiti did much to assure his success in the election, promising to reflect such reality in the weight of the attention the town and its residents should expect from his government when it came on board.
Oba Adejugbe, in a fairly lengthy speech, commended the current administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi for reversing the face of the capital for the better, through his urban renewal programmes as contained in the administration’s eight point agenda.
He maintained that because change is a permanent attribute in life, leaders must come and go. Oba Adejugbe said “I congratulate you (Governor Fayemi) for what you were able to do for Ekiti during your tenure. Thank you. It is only the wearer of the shoe who knows where it pinches”.
He informed the gathering that work on the amphitheatre had resumed after what he called “a disappointing lull and litigation of about 24 months caused by our contractors.
The monarch equally congratulated the incoming administration, noting that the governor elect should be aware of his duty as a leader.
His words: “I do fervently hope that you remember the terms of your contract with the people of Ekiti, your constituency. I am happy that you are coming again to a very familiar terrain. You know where the shoe pinches, the gullies and the bumps. Here is a golden opportunity to further engrave your name in the Honour Roll of our state”.
