Anlugbua festival, communal rebirth for growth

Despite the distance and other challenges on the journey to the Anlugbua forest, Nigerian Tribune correspondent made it to the shrine where the Olowu of Kuta, Oba AdekunleOyeludeMakama led his subjects to perform rites to his progenitor, Akindele popularly known as Anlugbua, a great warrior in his era.

Indeed, the rites were performed by the Chief Priest, who doubles as the ArabaAwo of Kuta, Chief FatunmiseEjibolu. That youthful Ejibolu, it was revealed, stood in for Pa OlodundeAyodele, who could no longer perform the duty as a result of old age.

However, Ejibolu effectively filled the vacuum, which could have been created as he conducted the activities in the shrine to the satisfaction of Oba Makama, who could not but acknowledged him during the Post-rite reception in the palace. Live ram and dog in addition to pounded yam and draw soup made up the items for the sacrifice at the shrine.

According to Ejibolu, each item was significant to Anlugbua, especially pounded yam, declaring that none of the items should be left out during the rites as a matter of obligation. Persons who wear certain tribal marks called keke are forbidden from entering Anlugbua’s shrine.

“They (the items) are what Anlugbua requested for to bring to the shrine, and we have always adhered strictly to the directive in order not to invite his wrath. I can say his wrath actually led to this festival after a group of his drunken children tried to test his power and all got killed by Anlugbua. So, taking all the items to the shrine is sacrosanct and part and parcel of us,” he stated.

Soon after the rites were performed, return journey back to town commenced immediately with drummers and hunters leading the traditional ruler out of the grove. Oba Makama who wore a clone-shaped crown that covers his face, endured the distance on feet after which he was welcomed back to town by groups of town’s women who had waited for his appearance in the premises of Kuta Community High School.

It was Yoruba culture at its best as the broom-wielding old and young women, some of whom tied their babies at back, surged to Oba Makama and treated him to variety of traditional songs, which inspired the monarch to do some royal dance.

Security operatives consisting the conventional policemen and civil defence personnel and local vigilance group took position among the crowd in their official uniform to maintain law and order. Their presence was an effective deterrence as a pocket of seemingly delinquent youths sighted among the crowd, read the body language well and checked themselves from going against the law.

Evidence of the tight security was that no incident of pickpocket or theft or clash was recorded throughout the festival. “You should understand that Kabiyesi is well exposed to know better what a large crowd of people could cause the security. Even before festival, I know him as a security conscious traditional ruler. He knows the importance of security. That is why this town enjoys peace. You can see that our eyes are all over everybody.

“Our presence means a risk to anyone who plans to misbehave. I can tell you that no incident will be recorded here at the end of the day because everybody is being monitored closely including you,” a policeman, who did not want his name in print, told our correspondent at Kuta Community High School.

Oba Makama, sandwiched by the crowd, eventually made it to his palace where already awaiting him were invited guests from far and near including a traditional ruler of a neighbouring Ile-Ogbo, Oba AdetoyeseAgbaje.

Sign of his arrival was the singing women who in unison danced into the expansive palace premises to the delight of all including some traditional chiefs, all of whom decked in white lace topped with Agbada made from Adire fabric. Just few minutes afterwards, Oba Makama entered and was received with loud chorus of K-a-b-i-y-e-s-i  ooo and heavy drum.

Remarkably, what was pure cultural gathering was blended with modernity with a live band performing in the palace among other touches that gave the festival an image of social function. The spectacle was as if all the kids in the town emptied themselves into the palace. They were everywhere with some sitting on bare floor to feed their eyes and record into their memories how 2018 edition of the Anlugbua festival drew crowd of dignitaries to their town.

Seated at the frontage of his palace, Oba Makama was complemented by Oba Agbaje, both of whom were acknowledging homage being paid them by different groups of people, starting by the traditional chiefs. The chiefs in their uniform attires prostrated before the royal fathers and offered prayers after which they rose and returned to their seats.

One after the other, other groups and individuals also took their turn to show their loyalty to the Olowu, who was responding with his soft smile and white horse tail in his hand. The Olowu declared that there was no going back in his mission to elevate the Anlugba festival to acceptable tourist product in the class of the famous OsunOsogbo festival annually held in August in the Osun State capital and which draws appreciable number of both local and foreign tourists to the town.

He revealed his efforts in that regard stating that he had commissioned a tourism consultancy company based in Lagos to come up with a package that would turn his dream to reality. Oba Makama said he had since come to the realization that Nigeria need to develop its tourism potentials scattered in its landscape in order to survive the unpredictable performance of oil in world market.

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He argued that any country which still relies on Oil revenue is living in the past given the fact that all economic indices on ground do not favour oil boom in the nearest future, stressing that diversification of economy is the in-thing now among serious-minded countries, urging Nigeria not to be left behind.

“So, development of tourism subsector is something government should look into. The era of paying only lip service to it is gone. We need to rise quickly and tap these resources with which we are blessed by God. Though Osun State Government has officially listed Anlugbua as one of tourists’ sites to be developed, I have gone for the company which packages the Osun Osogbo and which also now packages the Olojo Festival in Ile-Ife to expand Anlugbua Festival too.

“I am looking forward to see the new Governor, Gboyega Oyetola implementing what is on the list. I want to see my town also hosting many tourists and reaping from commercial advantage therein. Anlugbua is our cultural heritage. It is our history, the history of the founder of the town,” he said.

Oba Makama would later walk to the dance floor in company of his royal guests where they danced to the music of a Lagos-based female musician called Kafaya Singer.

In his remark, the Olu of Ile-Ogbo called on the Yorubas to draw a line between culture and religion, applauding his host, the Olowu of Kuta for the success recorded at the festival. Oba Agbaje also corroborated that tourism potentials in Yorubaland, for instance, are enough to turn the fortune of the geo-political zone around. He, therefore, called on relevant authorities to rise up and take the advantage.

“I am happy to be here to celebrate this festival with my friend, Oba Makama. Apart from the fact that our towns share border, we have a good work relationship as peace-loving royal fathers and good example to our subjects. The two towns have always live in peace with each other. I am wishing Oba Makama many successful Anlugbua festivals,” he said.

The Babalaje of Osogbo, Chief Dele Ajisafe also extolled the virtue of Oba Makama whom he described as pleasant and approachable, also wishing him happy celebration.

To the Sobaloju of Kuta, Chief OyelayoSanni, 67, Anlugbua Festival is a festival that connects the present with past of the town. The retired Headmaster said the festival holds a promise for the development of the town in in the area of tourism.