Gani Adams kicks off 13th Eledumare festival, celebrates culture, tourism

Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, said this year’s 13th edition of the Eledumare Festival is meant to appreciate what God has done in the lives of Nigerians and the citizens in general. It also serves as a potential boost for tourism in the host communities, the state, and the country.

The Yoruba generalissimo stated this while flagging off the 21-day event, which commenced on Sunday and will run till Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The festival will feature various programmes, including a media briefing/luncheon, prayers to Almighty God, a taekwondo competition, visits to a school for the blind and a motherless home, a table tennis competition, Ayo Olopon, a fashion show, among others.

Iba Adams, who is the Chief Promoter of the Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF), said that through cultural and traditional activities, God can also be appreciated. He expressed the organization’s resolve to “always make sure that it promotes culture, tradition, and even tourism in our community, the state, and the country.”

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“The festival is to appreciate what God has done in our lives and to let people know that we can appreciate God through cultural and traditional means, not only through religious programmes and activities. This festival will boost commerce in the host communities and the state, and it also has potential for tourism.

“We have been organizing this programme for the past 13 years, and even during the COVID-19 pandemic, we managed and ensured that the Eledumare Festival took place.

“The Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF) will always make sure that it promotes culture, traditions, and tourism in our community, the state, and the country,” he stated.

The Yoruba generalissimo, while noting that OFF has been committed to promoting cultural festivals at an international level, disclosed that the organization would soon hold a festival in Brazil around May, to be followed by two others in Senegal and the Republic of Benin, respectively.

“Olokun Festival Foundation has shown great interest in promoting cultural festivals internationally. Soon, there will be a festival in Brazil around May.

“We will make every effort to organize a programme in Senegal this year, through the Olokun Festival Foundation. We are also discussing with our partner in the Republic of Benin to host their own Olokun Festival, and we believe that at least two or three Olokun festivals will be held outside Nigeria,” he said.

Iba Adams listed other activities for the Eledumare Festival 2025 to include Children’s Day celebrations slated to be held in Epe, Ibeju, Lekki, and Eredo Local Government Areas in Lagos State, a football competition taking place in Agege, and a beach soccer event in Badagry on Sunday, April 13, 2025. There will also be a Yoruba Quiz Competition in Ogun East Senatorial District, Ijebu Axis (Ogun State), on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, with the grand finale scheduled for Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Prof. Kolawole Raheem, said that given the level of planning and the determination of the host communities to organize each programme, this year’s event would be the most organized festival in the history of the Eledumare Festival.

“This year’s Eledumare Festival will be the most organized in the festival’s history, based on the meticulous planning and the determination of the host communities to make each programme a success. The Olokun Festival Foundation is committed to organizing the best Eledumare Festival this year, and I can assure you of that,” he said.