THE Udiroko Festival has become the most important cultural fiesta in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. Every year, it serves as platform to celebrate the growth and development of the city.
The festival, otherwise known as Odun Olorunborun, marks the beginning of New Year in the Ado-Ekiti Traditional Calendar and offers the citizens the opportunity to gather in order to deliberate on issues affecting their community.
The festival was a by-product of Ajase Ewi, the Ewi’s supernatural power of conquest as he was not only regarded as a king, but also as the supreme military commander of his army.
When the kingdom became larger, the administrative and cultural demands of his office did not allow the Ewi to go on military expeditions anymore. He, therefore delegated his military responsibilities to his immediate senior officers who later became traditional war chiefs.
During the period, Ado people would assemble under the Iroko tree in Ewi’s palace to welcome the military officers and the assembly was also a platform for celebrating the congregation of the indigenes, the return of military leaders and other mercenaries and emissaries from sub-ordinate kings, chiefs and messengers carrying different gifts and food items from the rulers of Ewi’s vassal states.
Ado-Ekiti has come a long way since its ancestors left Ile-Ife, regarded as the cradle of the Yoruba race for Benin and arrived at the present location via Ido-Ani, Oka Akoko (both in present-day Ondo State), Agbado and Iluomoba.
History has it that Udiroko is as old as Ado itself as the name of the town literally means “here we have settled”.
Having settled at the present location under the leadership of Ewi Awamaro, prayers were offered under the Iroko tree at the palace for God’s protection and to offer thanks for the achievements recorded in the previous years.
Udiroko also gives an opportunity to the chiefs, groups, natives and guests to pay homage to the Ewi, who uses the opportunity to speak on key issues affecting his kingdom.
The cultural landmark is also regarded as the beginning of a new planting season, as farmers go to their farms to clear the land to plant crops in expectation of a bumper harvest in the coming year.
It should be noted that the reigning Ewi, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, the Aladesanmi III has taken Udiroko to a higher pedestal in terms of packaging, publicity, marketing, merchandising and etching it on the nation’s cultural map.
Oba Adejugbe’s ingenuity and sophistication has transformed the Udiroko Festival to a national and international festival which is now accessed on the Internet, even as it attracts foreigners.
The week-long event featured prayers at the palace for peace and development of Ado-Ekiti by Christian clerics, a news conference addressed by the Ewi, Festival Anniversary Lecture delivered by former Deputy Governor, Dr Sikiru Lawal, Health Talk, Ayo Olopon Competition, Ewi Football Cup Competition, visit to the sick and the aged, Jumat Service, performance by cultural troupes, Princes’ and Princesses’ Night and Church Thanksgiving Service.
This year’s edition of Udiroko Festival has lived up to its billings as the people of Ado-Ekiti led by the Ewi used it as an opportunity to celebrate Governor Ayo Fayose who was credited with key landmark projects in the palace.
The major project is the new amphitheatre in the palace square which was carried out by his administration to give people who attend the festival the opportunity to sit comfortably. It also added colour and glamour to the arena.
The city was throbbing for several hours as indigenes, visitors, friends and associates thronged the palace amphitheatre, where robust traditional displays showcased the rich cultural heritage of Ekiti people.
The festival was attended by Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo and Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Kenneth Kobani and Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Kola Oluwawole.
The Ewi wore a special cone-shaped crown with colourful strings located on its edge all around. He sat calmly with his wife, the Eyesorun, Olori Margaret Abosede Adejugbe and at the raised steps to the palace door.
The king waved his irukere (horsetail) intermittently in acknowledgement of encomiums, homage and obeisance paid him by his subjects and visitors who witnessed the festival.
Those who paid homage to the Ewi included traditional chiefs, quarter chiefs, Iwarefas, the Elegbes (traditional warriors), the Efas, (traditional police), the Oloris (the queens), the Omo Owas, (princes and princesses), the market women, the Hausa community, the Igbo community, the Idoma community, Ebira community, the Agbekoyas, politicians, artisans, drivers’ unions, youths and students.
The homage of Chief Bafon, the traditional generalissimo of Ado-Ekiti, was breath-taking despite that he has advanced in age. His dance steps and wielding of traditional sword drew applause from the crowd.
Politicians from the two major parties in the state, the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) appeared at the festival to test their popularity.
Aspirants believed to be nursing ambition ahead of the next elections trooped to the festival with their friends and admirers to identify with the people of Ado-Ekiti whose votes they would need at the next polls.
The President-General of Ado Progressives Union (APU), Chief Obafemi Ojo, said though the APU, the umbrella body of all associations in Ado-Ekiti, is non-partisan, there was no way the union would not commend Fayose for the various projects that are being executed in the town.
Ojo, who is also the Bobajiro of Ado-Ekiti, described Fayose as an extra-ordinary person.
“The Ado Progressive Union is non-partisan. I am neither a member of the APC nor PDP. This governor is not an ordinary person. In our culture, he can be described as Akanda eniyan. It is not common for a governor to be elected a governor a second time. He is a performer by every standard.
“We, Ado sons and daughters, appreciate you for the various achievements in Ekiti State in general and Ado-Ekiti in particular. Your name will be etched on the amphitheatre in Ewi’s palace for generations yet unborn to see. We hereby say thank you for your contributions to Udiroko 2015 and 2016,” he said.
Speaking in same manner, Oba Adejugbe described Fayose as Godsend ýto Ado and Ekiti State.
“I am indeed very grateful to the Government of Ekiti State led by Peter Ayodele Fayose, a pragmatic , committed beacon of excellence and a hardworking governor for the massive road construction work being carried out in Ado metropolis such as Onala/Tinuola Road, De-Head (Bawa Estate)-Adetiloye Road, Awedele-Secretariat Road dual carriage way, Adunni Olayinka Women Development Centre, the Erekesan under construction, and the flyover under construction, just to mention a few; all within 18 months of assumption of office.
“The ongoing flyover project deserves commendation. The government equally extends its developmental programmes such as road construction and provision of health facilities to other parts of the state.
“I pray that Almighty God will give the governor the ability to complete all the laudable projects he has embarked upon for the overall development of Ekiti State.
“I sincerely thank the governor for the completion of this Royal Gallery (amphitheatre) in Ewi’s palace. The community was getting fed up with financing the projects when he came to our rescue. Ado-Ekiti shall ever remain grateful to you.
“Like Oliver Twist, I plead with the governor to complete the Oba Adejugbe Hospital for urgent and effective health care delivery,” he said.
The Chairman, Ado Local Government Areaý, Ayodeji Ogunsakin, stated that the people would not forget Fayose’s contributions to the development of their community.
“Ado people are behind you. You have performed well. You have stabilised the political arena and made things beneficial for us all. You have achieved a lot despite the poor finances of the state and the huge debt profile you inherited from the previous administration. I thank you on behalf of Ado people,” the local government chief said.
This year’s Udiroko Festival also witnessed the foundation-laying ceremony of a new palace hall. It was performed by Governor Dankwambo who promised to support the project, attend next year’s event and witness the inauguration of the project.
Dankwambo said: “Ekiti and Gombe have things in common. The two states were among the six states created about 20 years ago. What I saw during the Udiroko Festival really impressed me and by next edition, God willing, I will come with more people from Gombe to celebrate with you. I will also adequately support this hall project and hope to be here when it is inaugurated.”
Fayose, in his remarks, advocated that the study of history should be reintroduced in the teaching curriculum of the nation, advising that “without the past, we can’t make out the future.” He described the development as “strange.”
The governor said: “That’s strange; I heard that for the first time. That must be strange because without the past we can’t make out the future. History must be told for people to learn out of it. I believe in history and I believe in our culture.” Speaking further about the huge success of the festival and his contributions, Fayose said: “The Amphitheatre which I built is here for you to see, the fly over bridge and Oja Oba are on-going. The Onala, Awedele dual carriageway roads and others are being constructed.
“Another thing that is of note is that since I assumed office, there have not been any politically-motivated killings or harassment and there would never be. Also, the peace in our state has been enhanced. “The Udiroko Festival provides our people the opportunity to celebrate our cultural heritages with our monarch.
“Udiroko has become a national festival. Look at the mammoth crowd here. Ekiti has never witnessed this huge crowd in the history of the festival. I will continue to support everything that would enhance our people’s culture, especially Udiroko.”
