SIR: The fanfare that greeted the celebration of Ojude-Oba festival in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State was not surprising. The country is at a point where any distraction from the catastrophe in governance is a much welcomed development.
The Ojude-Oba festival is one of its kind. Indigenes of Ijebu pay homage to their king with a flamboyant display of wealth and splendour. It is definitely a major shift from the scenario where a wealthy individual is afraid of going to his hometown for fear of being a victim of misfortune cast by people with mythical powers, jealous of his wealth. Nonetheless, there is wisdom in subjects displaying their wealth before their sovereign, in this case His Imperial Majesty.
Culturally, the king is preeminent over all things; the splendour demonstrated by his subject is simply an extension of his sovereignty. So, the influence and wealth of the king’s subjects though not legally ascribed to him can be assessed by him for whatever he would like. Perhaps, the scenario of a king placing his foot on the belonging of any subject is elusive for this modern world, yet this concept is a crucial tool for community building if well harnessed. The king, by virtue of his position, is then able to mobilize resources to carry out crucial projects. Therefore, the development of the community need not be hinged on the shoulders of unscrupulous politicians but on a visionary and charismatic traditional ruler that is concerned with the growth of his community rather than for rebates on sale of lands and plantations. This is an untapped driver of social change in our culturally diverse democracy.
In addition, subjects feel welcomed to participate in the development of their local community. So whether prompted by the king or not, their closeness to their roots may spur acts of philanthropy. Furthermore, younger individuals are getting involved in the festival. They form their own association and parade their emerging splendour before their sovereign. This is highly commendable, especially at a time when there is concern about the erosion of our cultural heritage from public consciousness. Getting young people involved is a sure way of sustaining the rich essence of our race.
In the words of a documentary maker, Ojude-Oba is the mother of all classic owambes. Unfortunately, this is the infancy of what the Ojude-Oba could be. Our society has had enough of sheer demonstration of might and opulence by the rich as they maintain aristocratic order. What is the essence of a colourful ensemble of aso-oke, matched with exquisite adornments perfectly aligned for camera lenses when the majority of the inhabitants of the land are safely tucked behind the scenes and in sight of the whole world? What is the essence of horse riding with great skills when roads that lead to the town and venue of the parade are in deplorable state? What kind of heritage is being celebrated in a land with such glaring infrastructural deficits?
Forget the talk about making it a global tourism attraction. We cannot expect foreigners to take us seriously if we cannot take ourselves seriously. A tourist attraction is not simply about the flamboyant display of a parade; the environment is an equally important source of attraction. Unfortunately, the country is at the moment more of a terror hotspot than a relaxation destination. And elected officials have proven to be unreliable in addressing the things that matter.
Therefore, the Ijebus, both at home and abroad, must write their own story. They have a gem that can further push their kindred to exclusive heights of majesty and respect globally. Sheer demonstration of opulence can only go so far. A platform to drive massive infrastructural and human development by the elites for the community is the first step in turning the Ojude-Oba festival into what it could be.
Ojude Oba Festival, the annual cultural fiesta of Ijebu people, is held on the third day after the Muslim festival of Eid el Kabir. It is a festival that is arguably the most colourful traditional festival in Africa. The festival celebrates the rich culture of Ijebu people.
According to history, the festival started in 1892 when the then Oba of Ijebuland, Oba Adesumpo Tunwase, gave a land to the Muslim faithful in Ijebu to build the Ijebu Central Mosque.
In appreciation of this gesture, the Muslim community, after the Eid el Kabir festival, visited the king to pay homage and thank him for the gesture. It subsequently evolved into an annual event by the Muslem community in Ijebu land.
The procession is led by the warrior families of Ijebuland called the Balogun.
Later, the festival shifted from being an exclusive Muslims’ event to become a festival for all the sons and daughters of Ijebuland. It was the current Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, that made these changes.
He introduced the regberegbe parade. He made the event a major tourism showpiece where Ijebu heritage is celebrated.
One event that has been there right from the beginning and has survived all the changes are the parade of horsemen. The families and descendants of warriors ride to the palace on horses. The horses are colourfully decorated. So, also the riders in the family attire with their family banners.
The horse riders come after the regbe regbe age group parade. The entry of the horse riders (eleshin) into the Ojude Oba arena is normally electrifying. Horse riders come with a certain element of might to showcase their families as among the illustrious in Ijebuland.
The drums beat faster accompanied with family songs. The horse riders are accompanied by some local hunters who would occasionally release loud gunshots into the air. The advent of the horsemen into the arena immediately raises the tempo of activities.
Women, children and even some men scamper to safety to avoid being trampled upon by the horses that become agitated with the huge number of people at the arena, the loud noise of drumming and sound of gunshots.
There are women from the different Balogun’s families who thread on this masculine terrain of horse riders. They are like amazons properly kitted for horse riding and soaked in the excitement. They dance with their horses and generally display their dexterity by making the horse jump with its forelegs, to the admiration of onlookers.
These lady horse riders of Ijebu, while bringing their dexterity on horsebacks to the fore, add a blend of beauty and fashion sense to the Ojude Oba horse riding.
Their dressing is mostly stylish agbada with cap. These female horse riders are between 20 and 70.
The first this reporter spoke with from the Balogun Odunuga family said she was 74 years and had been riding horses for 45 years. She was brimming with excitement in blue agbada with milk colour embroidery. She said was going into the Ojude Oba arena to dance shaku shaku on the horse. Asked whether she had ever had an accident on horse since she started riding 45 years ago, she said there was no time she had an accident.
Omolara Balogun, another female horse rider, is in her early 20s. She wore a stylish agbada with dark sunglasses to march. She looked pretty and comfortable on horse. She said her foray into horse riding started about two years ago. “It is a family traditional which we are upholding. It is a rite I have to perform every year. It is a family responsibility and equally something I enjoy. I enjoy it a lot.”
She said she took over from her father when he became too old to ride. Asked if she was forced, she said she was not. She said it was something she enjoyed doing.
Another lady, Foluso Kuku , 56, said she had been riding the Ojude Oba horse for about 10 years now.
Due to a large turnout of both Ijebu indigenes and tourists at Ijebu Ode for the festival, corporate organisations like Globacom, Nigerian Breweries and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) used the leverage offered by the festival to promote their brands.
In a goodwill message to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona, on the occasion of this year’s festival, the founder of FCMB Group who is also the Olori Omo-Oba Akile Ijebu, Otunba Subomi Balogun, expressed his gratitude to the Awujale of Ijebuland, for the paramount ruler’s selflessness in attending to the different requests and yearnings of the people of Ijebuland.
He said: ” I sincerely appreciate the amazing grace of the same Almighty God we share together, much more for sparing our lives to celebrate yet another Ojude Oba Festival. The festival provides us- all your children and subjects, the period when we gather to pay you homage and demonstrate our affection for a very unique monarch, an exceptional father figure and the paramount ruler who has continued to endear himself to his people.
“Apart from being the Olori Ebi (the head of the family, by the grace of Almighty God and interestingly not in contest by all who admire the grace of our God), as your Olori Omo-Oba (the head of princes and princesses), I will continue to lead the way in showing our appreciation by being very close to you and showing my total loyalty to you.
”For all true sons and daughters of Ijebuland, the Ojude Oba Festival is more than an event for us. It has become a long-standing yearly tradition we look forward to as a unifying platform and a tourist attraction. For over a century, the festival has become an internationally acclaimed event that has gone a long way to promote our cultural heritage and further unify humanity. As a socially responsible corporate citizen, we recognise that respect for our heritage is important as a catalyst of cultural diversity and a guarantee of sustainable development”.
In the same vein, the Group Chief Executive of FCMB, Ladi Balogun, congratulated the monarch for upholding the values of Ijebuland and raising the status of the event over the years. He reiterated the commitment of the financial institution to the longevity of the Ojude Oba Festival
His words: ”The Ojude Oba Festival, for us at FCMB, is not just another event. It is a pride to us, being a major platform through which we connect with the community and promote our nation’s diversity through purposeful partnership. The annual display of rich cultural heritage via the festival attracts tourists from across the globe and Ijebu indigenes in the diaspora, boosting trade and the hospitality sector in the region.
“It is time to begin to see the Ojude Oba Festival as a fulcrum to inspire individuals, awaken their entrepreneurial spirit and encourage the birthing of other endeavours that stimulate development in a sustainable manner”.
With the level of enthusiastic participation of the indigenes of Ijebu, both old and young, the Ojude Oba would continue to be a showpiece to display the rich culture and heritage of Ijebu people.
• Ijebu people mark Ojude Oba carnival in splendour
A mid a cloudy sky above and a wave of excitements on ground, Ijebu-Ode, the Ogun State royal town of the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, turned aglow with celebrations for the better part of yesterday.
Ijebu sons and daughters celebrated their Ojude Oba annual cultural carnival in glamour and splendour.
Over 35 age grades, called regbe-regbe, all dressed in colourful and distinguishing attires to showcase their rich cultural heritage, took turn to pay homage to Oba Adetona after series of rhythmic dance steps round the oval shaped arena of the festival arcade.
The regbe-regbe were closely followed by dozens of horse riders (eleshin) and descendants of the town’s Baloguns (warlords) by noon when the carnival peaked with an estimated 15,000 participants.
Dane guns boomed intermittently during the ceremony.
Senate President Bukola Saraki, who was the special guest of honour and whose arrival was greeted with a round of applause, noted that Ojude Oba is a cultural festival that “fosters unity” among the Ijebu.
Saraki, whose entourage included Senators Dino Melaye (Kogi State), Ben Bruce (Bayelsa), Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti), Duro Faseyi (Ekiti), Buruji Kashamu (Ogun), Shaba Lafiaji (Kwara), Sam Anyanwu (Imo) and Saraki’s media aide, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, urged Nigerians to emulate the Ijebu, who, despite their diversity of faith, live and interact harmoniously with one another.
The Senate president described the over 100-year-old festival as a “noble culture” that has continued to serve as a veritable rallying point for all sons and daughters of Ijebu nation.
He noted that whenever the issue of “resilience and dynamism of culture” is being discussed, Ojude-Oba readily comes to mind as the festival continued to grow from strength to strength because of the leadership quality of Oba Adetona.
Saraki said the festival had also become obvious that only quality leadership could engender progress and development such as the type witnessed in Ijebu.
Telecommunication giant, Globacom on Monday called on Nigerians to entrench unity by embracing their cultural heritage and values which had become synonymous with their African identity.
Globacom Marketing and Communications Head Lagos/Ogun Mr Afolabi Otufowora, made the call at a briefing to announce the company’s sponsorship plans for the 2018 edition of the Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu-Ode.
He said it was imperative to discourage the wave of modernisation aimed at eroding the age-old cultural activities which many young people tag as primitive.
Otufowora said Nigerians, especially the youths, needed to strive to deepen the unity of the country by showing interest in cultural history with a view to gaining a greater understanding of traditional values.
The 2018 Ojude Oba Festival has as theme: ‘Ojude Oba: Celebration of Rich Cultural Heritage.’
“Historically, the annual Ojude Oba Festival is a rallying point for all Ijebus to pay homage to the Awujale and unanimously push Ijebuland to the next level of social, psychological and infrastructural development.
“We commend our highly revered paramount ruler, Oba Sikiru Adetona, for the numerous giant strides recorded since he ascended the throne. It is noteworthy that the monarch has been using the festival to address issues relevant to the development of Ijebuland, in particular, and Ogun State, in general.
“We are happy that prominent personalities from all over the country usually grace the festival on the invitation of the monarch as special guests.
“This is a testimony to the fact that the Ojude Oba festival is also a plank for building and sustaining the unity of the country,” he said.
According to him, the company’s resolve to scale up preparations for the 2018 edition includes staging a promo specifically for the festival with a star prize of a new car.
He said participants are expected to visit Globacom’s designated ‘Glo World’ shops for more details on how to participate in the promo.
Chairman, Ojude Oba Planning Committee, Chief Wahab Osinusi, said the organisers of the festival were working with the Ogun State government to fully maximise its potentials for tourism.
Osinusi, the Otunba Fidipote of Ijebuland, said the tourism sector was an untapped gold mine which had the potential to alleviate poverty, create employment and generate revenue for development.
He described the festival as a cultural heritage that transcended religious divides and was promoting peace while aiding the socio-economic development of the community.
“The festival is not only about the equestrian display, parade of culture and tradition, merry-making and funfair.
“It also boosts commerce and trade in its entirety as commercial and trading activities are at their peak before, during and after the festival.
“All the facilities; hotels, restaurants, artisans, craftsmen, transporters, professionals, market men and women, among others, are fully engaged with several multiplier corporate effects,” Osinusi said.
Telecommunication giant Globacom yesterday urged Nigerians to entrench unity by embracing their cultural heritage and values synonymous with their African identity.
Globacom Marketing and Communications Head, Lagos/Ogun, Afolabi Otufowora stated this at a news conference to announce the company’s sponsorship plans for the 2018 edition of the Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu-Ode.
He said it was imperative to discourage the wave of modernisation aimed at eroding the age-old cultural activities which many young people tag as primitive.
Otufowora said Nigerians, especially the youths, needed to strive to deepen the unity of the country by showing interest in cultural history with a view to gaining a greater understanding of traditional values.
The 2018 Ojude Oba Festival has as theme: ‘Ojude Oba: Celebration of Rich Cultural Heritage.’
“Historically, the annual Ojude Oba Festival is a rallying point for all Ijebus to pay homage to the Awujale and unanimously push Ijebuland to the next level of social, psychological and infrastructural development.
“We commend our highly revered paramount ruler, Oba Sikiru Adetona, for the numerous giant strides recorded since he ascended the throne.
“It is noteworthy that the monarch has been using the festival to address issues relevant to the development of Ijebuland, in particular, and Ogun State, in general.
“We are happy that prominent personalities from all over the country usually grace the festival on the invitation of the monarch as special guests.
“This is a testimony to the fact that the Ojude Oba festival is also a plank for building and sustaining the unity of the country,” he said.
According to him, the company’s resolve to scale up preparations for the 2018 edition includes staging a promo specifically for the festival with a star prize of a new car.
He said participants will visit Globacom’s designated ‘Glo World’ shops for more details on how to participate in the promo.
Chairman of Ojude Oba Planning Committee, Chief Wahab Osinusi, said the organisers of the festival were working with the Ogun government to fully maximise its potentials for tourism.
Osinusi, the Otunba Fidipote of Ijebuland, said the tourism sector was an untapped gold mine which had the potential to alleviate poverty, create employment and generate revenue for development.
The 2018 Ojude Oba Festival is slated for two days after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Festive times usually encourage festive imagination. So, it is unsurprising that the celebration of the yearly Ojude Oba festival in Ijebuland on September 14 was loaded with ambitious aspirations. Three governors who attended the festival, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and Nasir el –Rufai of Kaduna State, rated the cultural fiesta in superlative terms, adding that it deserves to be listed as a global festival.
The colourful festival, held every third day after the yearly Eid-el-Kabir festival, was marked by “parades by the different age grades popularly referred to as ‘regberegbe’, and the horse riders (Baloguns), who turned out in colourful attires to pay homage to the Awujale one after the other.” The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the king of the land who was at the centre of the festival, received deserved commendation for sustaining it. Amosun described the festival as “a marriage of culture and tradition” that had become a rallying point for not only the sons and daughters of Ijebuland, but the whole country.
Talking of the sustenance of the festival, the role of telecom giant Globacom in keeping the show aglow is worth noting and worth celebrating. The company has sponsored the event for 10 years as part of its Glo Heritage Series. Globacom Chairman Dr. Mike Adenuga, who was represented at the event by the commercial coordinator, business enterprise, Mr. Folu Aderibigbe, said: ”Over the years, Ojude Oba has remained not only a point of crystallisation and social re-engineering; it is as well an avenue for the constellation of ideas and initiatives that are geared towards prompting the growth of the society and the wellness of its people.” It goes without saying that the company’s continued support, among other enabling factors, is critical to the realisation of the dream of a globally recognised Ojude Oba festival.
What does it mean to be on the “global tourism map?” Amosun said the festival could generate huge revenues and boost the country’s economy. Dickson said the festival was exportable: ”Ojude Oba is not only for Ijebuland or the people of Ogun State; we need to showcase it to the rest of the world.” Interestingly, Dickson linked his maternal grandmother to the Fidipote family in Ijebu Ode, saying “there is unity and strength in diversity.”
There is no doubt that the country has what it takes to become a prominent cultural tourism destination; and there is also no doubt that the country lacks what it takes to be such an attraction.
A recent report highlighted the country’s underdevelopment in the tourism sector, and quoted The Global Chief Economist, Renaissance Capital (RenCap), Mr. Charles Robertson, as saying that Nigeria is losing at least $8bn in tourism receipts. The expert emphasised that improvements in airport quality and visa policy were non-negotiable. He said: “Why is Ghana 25 times more successful than Nigeria in attracting tourism revenues? Indeed, why is Nigeria the second least successful African country in attracting tourism receipts out of the 43 we have data for (only the DRC is worse)? One deterrent is the visa process… We argue that deterring tourists is an economic mistake, especially when the EM or frontier economies are weak. Countries like Russia and Nigeria could do with the diversification that tourism might provide.”
The RenCap economist added: “When we look at net tourism receipts (spending abroad by your citizens, minus spending in your country by foreign tourists), we can see which frontier countries are doing best (Croatia, Jordan, Mauritius, Morocco) and which are doing worst (including Nigeria, Pakistan and Romania)…Nigeria, via improvements in airport quality and visa policy, might in the long-term do far more to address its tourism deficit…”
Of course, tourism development has a price tag. Apart from the aspects identified in the foregoing report, there are important infrastructural minuses that need to be tackled to realise the dream of a tourism-friendly and tourist-friendly destination. What about basic things like power and water? What about good roads and good environment? What about security, and law and order?
Certainly, it is not enough to establish formal structures for tourism development and promotion without the political will to make them work and achieve results. In other words, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), which is the country’s apex tourism agency, should be driven with focus by the political authorities to realise its vision “to make Nigeria the foremost tourist destination in Africa” and to positively project Nigeria tourism as a major pillar of the economy that could take the place of oil as the source of foreign exchange earnings.
But it is not just the Ojude Oba festival that should be taken to global prominence. Nigeria has many other festivals across the country that deserve such attention and action. These include the Osun-Osogbo festival; Argungu Fishing Festival, as well as many other cultural sites that are a tourist’s delight. It must be understood though that festivals grow to global status through tourism-friendly policies and not by imposition on the tourism market.
The 2006 Ojude Oba Festival was held last Wednesday, the third day after the Muslims’ festival of Eid El Mubarak . The event attracted thousands to the ancient town of Ijebu Ode.
On display was the richness of the Ijebu rich culture that dates back to more than 100 years. There are two aspects of the festival. The homage to the king, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona. Indigenes of Ijebuland, whatever their positions, join their age groups, singing and dancing to pay homage to the reigning monarch. The groups come in traditional attire to show that they have done well within the last one year.
This year’s event had in attendance three governors: the host, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson, who was the special guest of honour, and the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.
It is a testament to the richness and strength of the Ijebu culture that despite the heavy downpour, the age groups made their way to the VIP stand to pay homage to the king.
The horse riders were also not left out in the fun. They enthusiastically danced inside the rain, but were prevented from full equestrian display by the slippery floor.
Speaking on the event, the founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Otunba Subomi Balogun, himself a prince of Ijebu, said: “Every Ijebu person looks forward to the annual Ojude Oba event. Ojude Oba is held within the palace or in the front of the Awujale Palace.
”I think it was about 1892, when my own ancestor, Oba Adesumbo Tunwase, signed the treaty of the relationship with the British queen and gave land to the Muslims to establish their central mosque. At the same time, he agreed with the British missionaries to preach in Ijebuland. He even went further to allow some of his children to be baptized. To cap it all, he gave out the land on which the first church in Ijebuland was built. That is St. Saviour ‘s. So, from my background and association, and what the Good Lord has endowed me with, it will be unpatriotic of me, if I don’t play a leading role in this most important cultural and traditional event of the Ijebu.”
The state governors, in their speeches, called for unity among Nigerians.
Governor Amosun said: “It is not where one comes from or religion that should count, but one’s diligent service. We should emulate Kabiyesi’s ability to forge unity among his people, despite different religions. We should live in togetherness, love and harmony, not only in Ogun State but also in Nigeria.”
Governor el-Rufai praised the Awujale for sustaining festival as an annual event.
He said: “I came here not as governor, not as guest of Governor Amosun or as a member of the All Progressives Congress. I’m here because Awujale is my father, a man of great wisdom, unparalleled courage and integrity.
“Throughout my public service and exile, he was a true father to me. He advised and even supported me financially. I know the dream of Ijebu State is close to your heart and one can pray for your long life to see Ijebu State come to pass,”
Among the major sponsors for this year’s event is FCMB.
The Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc has praised organisers of the Ojude Oba festival for showcasing the rich culture of the people of Ijebuland in Ogun State.
Reviewing the festival, held three days after Eid-El-Kabir last month, NB said it was impressed by how the festival highlighted the Ijebu tradition and culture.
The brewer said it put up a 10-day Beer Village at the festival where visitors and consumers enjoyed its Goldberg brand.
The Beer Village, according to the brewer, provided a serene and relaxing ambience for consumers who had fun with their friends and family for the ten-day period.
The climax of activities at the Beer Village was a raffle draw. Some Goldberg consumers went home with several prizes.
Goldberg Brand Manager Mfon Bassey eulogised the people of Ijebu land for embracing the cultural values of the festival which is a yearly traditional event indigenes of Ijebu and tourists look forward to because of its rich cultural heritage.
He stated that “the Ojude Oba Festival celebrates religious tolerance that has prevailed in Ijebu for over two centuries. The festival is not all about equestrian display, parade of culture and tradition, merry making and fun fare, it provides the Ijebu nation the opportunity to take stock, embark of self-help projects, reunite with family members and acquaintances, and supplicate to the Almighty God”.
The festival also boosts commerce and trade in its entirety as commercial and trading activities are at their pick during the festival. The festival touches every spectrum of life in Ijebuland. All the facilities- hotels, restaurants, artisans, craftsmen, transporters, professionals, market women and men, etc. are fully engaged with several multiplier effects.
The Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Kufre Ekanem said Nigerian Breweries is associating with the age long Ojude Oba festival with the Goldberg brand to give consumers the wonderful experience of a life time.
He said the brand’s beer village at the Dipo Dina stadium created a platform for locals and tourists to enjoy Goldberg Lager Beer amid the fun fare of a musical carnival.
“Nigerian Breweries is very proud to be associated with a carnival of this magnitude that brings thousands of indigenes, tourists and guests from all walks of life to the historical city every year. As the foremost brewery in the country, it delights us to sponsor this year’s carnival and also participate in the cultural parade that equally serves as a distinctive platform to reconnect with the values that sustain the rich cultural heritage and the uniqueness of the Ijebu people,” Ekanem said.
For every two bottles of Goldberg bought, consumers were given a raffle ticket which qualified them to enter for the raffle draw. A lot of fantastic prizes like refrigerators, bags of rice, vegetable oil, generators, etc. were won during the raffle draw.
The rich cultural heritage of the people of Ijebu-Ode was on display penultimate Saturday, as the community marks this year’s Ojude Oba Festival. ERNEST NWOKOLO reports
For several hours penultimate Saturday, Ijebu-Ode, the royal home of the Awujale of Ijebu land, Ogun State was lively. Guests from far and near joined residents to celebrate this year’s Ojude Oba Festival.
The town was literally shut down as huge crowd of residents made their way to the palace of Awujale to behold a cultural spectacle and catch some fun usually experienced once in a year.
There was heavy drumming, singing, trumpeting and breathtaking dance steps by cultural dancers who thrilled guests that had seated before the arrival of the dignitaries.
It was all glamour and show of opulence, as an estimated crowd of 45,000 that included residents, friends, well-wishers and tourists, participated in the celebration of the over 100-year-old Ojude Oba carnival.
The festival provided the opportunity for indigenes to pay homage to the paramount ruler of Ijebu-Ode, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba 11, who is often referred to as Orisha Ijebu (the god or Oracle of the Ijebu nation) by his subjects.
•One of the Regberegbe
As early as 9:30 a.m. that day, the mini-stadium-like precincts built by Ijebu citizens primarily for the festival started witnessing massive influx of spectators and various age grades (the regberegbes). At noon, more crowd had gathered at the Awujale archway.
As if the areas were not enough to accommodate the surging crowd, the spectators literally took over Folagbade and the adjoining streets as well as the Itoro; the headquarters of Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area.
At one end of the arcade were Oba Adetona, his Special Guest of Honour, Senator Daisy Ehanire Danjuma and the monarch’s wife, Olori Kemi Adetona. Also seated near the monarch was the Acting Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga.
Local drummers and entertainers in their various groups were available to thrill guests for no fixed price. Within the arcade, different age groups who dressed in various appealing colours competed for attention. Their mode of dressing revealed the rich cultural heritage, success, wealth and enterprising spirit of the Ijebu people.
By 10: 30 a.m., the regberegbes had started paying homage to the Awujale, Oba Adetona, who equally poured immeasurable royal blessings on them.
First to perform the rite with rythmic Ijebu dance step were the Egbe Mafowokun Age Grade to which Senator Biyi Durojaiye belongs and Oba Shafi Agbolade Sule of Odosenlu Kingdom as their head.
The Egbe Mafowokun Age Grade, to which the Awujale belongs, is well known for always adorning thick fabric of ox-blood colour with bold stripes. This year, however, the group wore deep grey colour fabric.
No fewer than 25 age grades paid homage to the paramount ruler, followed by corporate organisations. Globacom that has been the official sponsor of Ojude Oba for a decade running took the lead.
The major signpost of this year’s Ojude Oba was the engaging dance steps of the various male and female regberegbes age grades. They danced round the palace arena in healthy competition; as each group tried to outdo the others in dressing, show of affluence, success and entrepreneurial spirit.
There were about 36 regberegbes in Ijebu land and over 25 of them were present to pay homage to their spiritual head, who, in turn gives them his royal blessings. Some of them included the Egbe Arobayo (female), Egbe Gbobaniyi (Obinrin Olori), Egbe Jagunmolu (Obinrin), Egbe Obafuwaji (male), Egbe Obaleke, Egbe Jagunmolu Akile, Egbe Bobaniyi (male) in which former chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area, Mufutau Oseni, is the Giwa, among others.
The glamour and carnival in Ojude Oba took an exciting dimension by noon with the gallant parade of the Baloguns and Eleshins of Ijebu land. These are the descendants of Ijebu war heroes who executed wars and gained major victories for them during the war-torn era of Yoruba history.
Among them were Balogun Odunnuga, Balogun Bello Odueyungbo Kuku, Balogun Agboola Alausa, Balogun Alatishe, Balogun Otubu, Balogun Adesoye, Balogun Odejayi, Balogun Adesoye Onasanya, Balogun Towobola, Balogun Aregbesola and Balogun Ajibike Odedina.
The horse riding Baloguns
Others were Balogun Sarunmi, Balogun Areagba, Eleshin Keregbetu family, Eleshin Oyewole family and Eleshin Josi family. They took their turns to ride triumphantly into the palace on horseback in the fashion of soldiers returning from a successful military campaign.
The colourful parade in succession was accompanied by disorderly and intermittent booming of dane guns as each family of the Baloguns and Eleshins took turns to pay homage to Oba Adetona who, in turn, blessed them in Ijebu dialect.
Ojude Oba, which was a Muslim religious affair in Yoruba land took a firm root in Ijebu with the settlement of the first convert to Islam in Ijebu-Ode during the reign of Awujale Adesimbo Tunwase around 1889. During the period and up to the time of Oba Adeona Fusigboye (1906), horse riding was not an integral part of the festival.
But horse riding became part of it during the reign of the duo of Oba Adenuga Folagbade and Oba Adesanya. The festival took a glamorous dimension when Oba Sikiru Adetona mounted the throne over five decades ago. Since then, the festival has been accorded national and international recognition.
This year, many of the horse riders, particularly those from Keregbetu family of Baloguns displayed their expertise to the excitement of all. Many notable Ijebu sons have suggested that horse riders should be allowed enough time to display their prowess during future celebration of Ojude Oba Festival.
Yearly, the Ojude Oba Festival attracts tourists from within and outside Nigeria. The theme of this year’s festival was “Harnessing our Cultural Heritage for Economic Development.”
Hospitality industry received a boost as many tourists visited various tourists’ sites in the area while the celebration lasted. An estimated N50 million worth of businesses were transacted during the event. Such businesses included catering services, printing, rentals, artists on display, hoteliers, transporters, tailors and hawkers of souvenirs, among others. Firms such as Globacom and others used the festival as a showcase for their products and services.
In his message, Oba Adetona praised his people for the peaceful celebration of Ojude Oba which draws Ijebu sons and daughters home to discuss issues of development and peace in Ijebu land.
Expectedly, the indigenes used the event to further agitate for the creation of Ijebu State to be carved out from the present Ogun State. Oba Adetona commended the chairman of Globacom, Otunba Mike Adenuga for not only sponsoring the festival for the 10th year running, but also for being change agent that has positively affected all facets of life in Nigeria.
“Globacom’s sponsorship of Ojude Oba Festival has raised it to an enviable tourists’ delight which attracts people from all walks of life and from other parts of the country.
“Through Adenuga, thousands of jobless people now have means of sustenance. He has greatly enhanced the economy of the country through his business ventures which have grown and extended to other parts of the world.
“Globacom has, through its innovative technological edge, become the leader in the telecoms market in Nigeria and since Globacom undertook to be the main sponsor of the festival 10 years ago, we have been going up and up, better and better,” Adetona said.
The Special Guest of Honour and Vice-Chairman, South Atlantic Petroleum, Senator Danjuma, who had her secondary education in Ijebu-Ode, said Ojude Oba is a symbol of national unity, religious tolerance and harmony.
Mrs Danjuma praised Globacom for its support for culture and tradition exhibited through its partnership with organisers of cultural events across the country.
For Deputy Governor, Mrs Onanuga who represented Governor Ibikunle Amosun at the event, OjudeOba does not only serve as a showcase for the rich cultural heritage of the Ijebu people, but has also placed Ijebu nation, Ogun State and Nigeria on a global map.
Contributing, Dr Adenuga described Ojude Oba as a social melting pot where all divergent issues affecting the lives of the people are discussed and where sons and daughters of Ijebu land both at home and in the Diaspora regard themselves as active players in the socio-economic development of Ijebu land.
According to him, Globacom is mindful of the importance of the festival to the cultural and religious well-being of the people of Ijebu land, hence, its commitment to its sponsorship.
In this year’s Ojude Oba Festival, Globacom gave cash prizes to some age groups whose performances impressed Oba Adetona at the fiesta.
While Egbe Bobaejeye (female Double T) won N500,000 as best regberegbe in the female category, Egbe Gbobaniyi Obinrin Olori and Egbe Jagunmolu Obinrin came second and third and went home with N300,000 and N200,000 respectively.
In the male category, Egbe Obafuwaji came tops winning N500,000 while Egbe Jagunmolu Akile and Egbe Obaleke took the second and third positions; winning N300,000 and N200,000 respectively.
Some dignitaries that attended the event were Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, ex-governor of Bayelsa State, Diepriye Alamieseigha, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Prince Suraj Adekumbi, former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, Senator Lekan Mustapha, Otunba Subomi Balogun, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali and Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, among others.
Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday said the two bridges being built in Ijebu-Ode will be completed before the next Ojude-Oba festival.
The bridges are part of the ongoing expansion of the Mobalufon/Folagbade road.
Amosun spoke while inspecting the work done on the road.
He said: “By the grace of God, the Folagbade Bridge and the one at Mobalufon junction will be ready before the next Ojude Oba.
“I am sure that we are on track. These roads projects will outlive us. They would be motorable for over 50 years.”
He said the ongoing Ilisan-Ago-Iwoye road project, when completed, would boost commercial activities in the area.
Amosun said: “With the kind of activities we envision here, going by the presence of Apoje Farm and the proposed Cassava and Rice Mills in this axis, we need to put necessary things in place to enhance the movement of goods and people. I can see a Gateway State where people will link major towns and communities easily in the next two to three years.”
