It was like an old wine in new bottle when the people of Oke-Imesi in Ekiti State celebrated this year’s edition of the triennial Ladunwo festival in a way that it had never been celebrated before. Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare reports that the excitement and fanfare that permeated the entire celebration this year was further enhanced by the presence of guests from different countries and the freedom people had to record the events.
For the people of the historical town of Oke-Imesi in Ekiti State, the triennial celebration of their ancestral masquerade known as Ladunwo festival was one with a difference as it has been adjudged by the people as one of its kind due to the influx of people from all walks of life including tourists, cultural enthusiasts and prominent sons and daughters of the town who all converged for the grand finale of the festival.
The festival is of great significance to the people of Oke-Imesi based on the belief that it is different from other masquerade celebrations in the town because Ladunwo is seen as the agent responsible for the development and growth of the town.
This is why it is celebrated with panache. And since the last celebration in 2017, many had looked forward to this year’s edition which has been rebranded in a way many never thought would be possible in this lifetime. Before the 2017 edition, Ladunwo festival was a closed event that did not attract tourists and many children of the town because it was a taboo to cover the event.
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Anyone that tried to take picture or do video recording would have his camera or phone damaged. Consequently, it remained a ceremony just within the community for the people of the town and a few friends and restricted the attraction it can have to aid the development of the town as people that were supposed to come from outside were not encouraged by the inability to record proceedings, some even got scared that the ceremony was occultic because of the perceived secrecy.
As a result, the masquerade was more accessible during the 2019 celebration and the security around it which was usually by hefty men wielding canes, cutlasses and sword to scare people away and destroy recording gadgets was reduced, giving way for people to record and take pictures even with the masquerades.
The expectations of the people looking forward to the ceremony was not cut short; they did not only see the long-awaited Ladunwo, who to the adherents is like an uncommon angel bearing blessings and prosperity for the land and its people, the influx of people also added glamour to the celebrations and the socioeconomic life of the town got a major boost while the people had a chance to meet new people and network for business opportunities.
During the festivities, there was a procession of all masquerades around the town which culminated in a carnival as the people joined the procession to dance to the palace to pay homage to the traditional ruler of Oke-Imesi and Ladunwo which is believed to be the biggest and most powerful masquerade in the town.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that every family with masquerade or those from the lineage of masquerades must organise a party to fete people throughout the day making the community a beehive.
Speaking on the importance of the festival and what it portends for the town, Prince Kayode Oni, the Chairman of the Organising committee for Oke-Mesi Cultural Heritage celebration stated that Oladunwo is a unique and special masquerade with historical relevance to the ancient community.
“It has been in existence since the days of our forefathers and it was with them through thick and thin; it lived in the rock, it rescued and protected them during the war. The people of the town consider him as one of our ancestor who deserves to be celebrated and that is why we deem it fit to organise a festival to celebrate it,” he said.
The people explained that Ladunwo has no noticeable shadow and prior to the 2017 edition of the event, anybody that tried to take a picture or record the festival would have his camera or phone damaged.
According to the people, the times changed and culture must move with the tide in order not to be extinct. So in order to give the festival a pride of place, there was an appeasement rite.
Also speaking at the festival, the Director-General of Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr Wale Ojo Lanre, said the festival is not a mere jamboree or borne out of the need to just party, but a major step- towards the sociocultural development of the state and opening up the tourism industry in the state as a whole
According to him, “the focus of the Dr Kayode Fayemi led administration is value reorientation and one of the ways we can do this is to promote cultural events , showcasing heritage sites as well as creating a platform for talents and people’s creative ability to thrive. We also have the intention of harnessing heritage sites and cultural events for economic benefit and generating jobs through creative industry as well as restoring the traditional value of our land and reduce all form of social vices.
“The state would continue to initiate ideas that will boost what is already on ground in a way that will benefit the people and the state as a whole. The Council of Arts will support local talents, help boost cultural heritage and preserve the heritage of the people. We welcome any form of partnership that would encourage involvements in cultural activities and are open to ideas that can aid development.
Ojo Lanre lauded the organisers of the Ladunwo cultural festival and promised the involvement of the state in subsequent editions of the festival and others in the state.
One of the indigenes of Oke-Imesi town who came home purposely to celebrate the festival, Chief Dare Babarinsa, observed that the government and private investors are needed to partner with the community and others on cultural promotion in the state and called on all stakeholders to see promotion of cultural values and heritage as a collective responsibility.
“Ekiti state is blessed with so many potential which need to be developed for economic development,” Chief Babarinsa stated, calling on well-wishers and prominent sons of the land to look back and contribute to all activities that can aid development of the state.
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