Ekiti State is set to receive a deluge of tourists and visitors on July 21 this year as the indigenes of Uro Quarters, Ikere Ekiti have mapped out plans to celebrate the new yam Festival.
The Oba of Uro, His Royal Highness Akamuja Obawale Charles Ekundayo, Erujeje Ekun I, made this disclosure during a press interaction held in Ibadan last week.
Oba Akamuja Ekundayo disclosed “This is an opportunity to disclose to all that the New Yam festival, a traditional feat which has been performed since the founding of Ikere by our predecessors and which has not been ceased to be performed since then will also hold on Friday, July 21, 2017 in Uro Quarters, Ikere Ekiti”.
He revealed “It is not a fetish celebration. It is a celebration initiated by our forebears to signify commencement of harvest. It is done with pomp and ceremony. Purely traditional entertainment stuff accompanied with traditional prayers and thanksgiving to the lord of harvest for the past bountiful output and the subsequent years. And this is what we are doing in a more formalised, creative and economic way”
Oba Akamuja Ekundayo, a journalist and broadcaster before ascending to the throne said “The New Festival is so important to the spirit of Ikere and its indigenes. It is tied to the main source of livelihood of the people – farming. Without the Yam Festival being celebrated as laid down by our progenitors, we cannot just afford that. Hence, all indigenes of Ikere Ekiti appreciate this and support the celebration”
The Oba disclosed “all hands are on deck to make this year’s new yam festival the best ever. I must tell you that we are targeting not less than a million tourists. We know the economic import of the deluge of people passing through Uro and ostensibly Ikere. We have evaluated the impact of past celebrations and we found out that it were of more economic benefit to the people than dancing. Hence, we are making this year’s New Yam festival a carnival as never done before. We are moving the world to Uro in Ikere and you should join them for the spectacular new yam festival 2017”.
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