Culture

Olojo Festival Draws Yorubas Worldwide to Ife

By Web News 628

By Mojisola Oladele

Nigerians across all walks of life have converged on the Ooni of Ife’s Palace to celebrate the annual Olojo Festival.

The main thrust of the gathering is the need to promote and protect the Yoruba tradition.

Speaking during the event, Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke represented by his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, reiterated his commitment towards promotion and sustenance of culture and tourism to boost the state’s economy.

The Osun helmsman appealed to politicians in the state to prioritise the development of the state above party affiliation and personal interest.

In an interview with Radio Nigeria, President, Yoruba Council Worldwide, Aare Hassan Oladotun described Olojo Festival as an event which celebrates the aesthetic cultural heritage of Yorubaland and the Ooni of Ife as apex Monarch in Yorubaland.

Aare Oladotun stressed the value of the ‘omoluabi’ ethos, and urged Yorubas worldwide to embrace it.

Former member representing Ife Federal Constituency in the House of Reps, Mr. Rotimi Makinde, said the Festival was not just historic, but also one of the greatest events in Yorubaland.

According to him, the Ooni would wear the sacred beaded crown weighing over 50 kg, and it is believed that pointing or looking at it attracts answers to prayers.

Meanwhile, the Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, yesterday night ended his seven-day seclusion, marking a significant moment in this year’s Olojo Festival.

Emerging from the private retreat, Oba Ogunwusi, said he spent the period of isolation for intense supplication for the unity and progress of the nation.

Dignitaries at the event included High Chiefs of Ile – ife, lawmaker representing Osun Central Senatorial District, Mr.Olubiyi Fadeyi, former National Secretary of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, Mr Akin Ogunbiyi, State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Bankole Ojo, Member representing Ife East State Constituency, Mr.Olumide Fatunmise and community associations.

Culture

I’ll use my Olojo seclusion to pray for Tinubu, Africa’s unity -Ooni

By Web News 1378

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, revealed that he would be offering serious prayers for the Bola Tinubu-led administration during his time of seclusion at the forthcoming Olojo festival.

The monarch also said he would pray for a turnaround of the current hardship experienced in the country as occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and other factors.

Ooni made the call while speaking with newsmen in his palace on Sunday in preparation for seclusion as part of the Olojo rites.

He said, “I will use the medium to pray for African Unity and movement, for actualisation of Pan Africanism. We therefore as stakeholders must play our roles to ensure that Africa as a continent speaks in unity,” he stated.

Ooni emphasised that Nigeria needs spiritual intervention at this time of economic downturn, adding that he would utilise this period to pray for a way out of seclusion.

“I will pray for the unity of Africa. Things are very hard. We all know the economic challenges that people are facing.

“This is the time we need spiritual and divine intervention. My annual Olojo seclusion. This is how my ancestors have been doing it.

”We should pray very well because things are very hard. We all know the state of the economy. It is a sensitive thing that needs prayer which should not go out of hand.

“My prayer also would be to pray for divine intervention for the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to turn things right because expectation of people is so high”, the Ooni stated.

Also, he called on stakeholders in Africa to prioritise the unity of the African continent, saying pan-Africanism is non-negotiable.

He said, “Pan African movement is not negotiable as this is a way out for us in Africa, for the unity of the African continent as this must be paramount to all of us”.

The royal father explained that everywhere is so tense now and people are not finding life easy, but he would use the seclusion period to pray for the leaders.

Ooni said Olojo is an annual festival, stressing that there’s nothing he asked for, for 8 years which could not be answered. “I talked to my creator and my ancestors and they answered me speedily.”

Oba Ogunwusi called for support for the president to move the nation forward.

Olojo festival is the biggest festival on the culture calendar of Ile-Ife.

The Olojo (controller of time-Death) festival is celebrated in remembrance of Ogun, the god of iron who is believed to be the first son of Oduduwa as well as the creation of the world according to Yoruba mythology. The festival takes place annually in October and involves several elaborate ritual prayers led by the Ooni.

It is marked by a carnival-like atmosphere and is attended by people of all ages.

Olojo has remained popular in Ile-Ife because it is the only day in the year believed to be specially blessed by Olodumare (the Creator of the Universe)

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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