Ojude Oba: Ijebus rich blend of culture, tradition, fun

For residents and indigenes of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Ojude Oba festival connotes an annual melting pot of tradition, culture and fun. OLAYINKA OLUKOYA, who witnessed this year’s edition of the festival, reports the beautiful moments of the over 100-year-old event.

This year’s edition of the Ojude Oba Festival provided another round of fun, thrill and a rich blend of culture and tradition. It was another day of demonstrating the respect and love Ijebu sons and daughters from different parts of the globe have for their revered traditional ruler, the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. Both young and the old, especially people who were not of Ijebu extraction, added glamour and colour to the event, which has continued to remain relevant for well over a hundred years.

The different age grades (Regberegbe) as usual in their different traditional attires such as Aso Oke synonymous to the Yoruba people stepped out with splendour with other complements such as horsetails, beautiful beads (Ileke), hand fans (abebe), walking sticks and many more.

They defied the rainfall to pay homage to the Awujale at an event which has continued to attract global attention considering the large attendance of tourists who usually visit Ijebu Ode to catch a glimpse of the festival.

The equestrian parade of horses by various balogun (warlord) families was another spectacle to behold. Gunshots, though scary, added pep to the event. Horse riding was done to the admiration of the people, especially those attending the festival for the first time.

The convivial atmosphere around the town was a sign of the acceptability of the festival by people of different faiths, despite the fact that the festival has its root in Islam.

Apart from the venue of the festival which was filled to the capacity, various streets and corners in the ancient town had a feel of the event. The streets were lined up with various canopies and music stands. Security agents and traffic control personnel were scattered all around major streets in the town to ensure orderliness. From Ibadan road to Folagbade, Lagos garage down to Mobalufon and most importantly, Awujale road, it was celebration galore. People trooped out in droves to participate in the festival, just as brisk business owners, eateries, beer parlour joints had their own fair share of the day. Tourism was again boosted.

This year’s ceremony, no doubt, was unique in every sense with beautiful programmes organised by some sponsors of the festival to make it a memorable one. The town also wore a new look with paintings of flyovers within the town and the palliative measures carried out on some roads in the town that are in bad state.

The theme of this year’s celebration which had the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki as special guest of honour was “celebrating the rich cultural heritage.”

Saraki who was on ground in company of some members of the National Assembly commended the organisers for putting up an event which has continued to be on the country’s festivals’ calendar.

The Senate President, who was full of excitement with various displays making the event colourful, said Ojude Oba festival “is a case of resilience and dynamism of culture.”

He said the beautiful attires adorned by the various age grades were indicative of the Ijebu people’s appreciation of their cultural heritage.

Saraki said the festival apart from promoting culture and tradition of the people, is a source of revenue generation with the exchange of naira and kobo for goods and services. He advised Nigerians to draw up lessons from the celebration of the festival which promotes unity among people of different religions.

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“When we talk about the resilience and dynamism of culture, Ojude Oba is a case point. The visual feast of the regberegbes is already well known and iconic, as they present themselves before Kabiyesi in colourful uniform attires made with creativity and flair.

“Also, famous is the equestrian parade by the Baloguns of the ruling houses, memorable for their displays of a noble tradition. I must admit that this part of the festival holds a special appeal to me, due to its similarity to the Durbar in my part of the country.

“In the array of sartorial tradition of this festival, as evident in the impressive attires worn by the various groups, Ojude Oba promotes and reinforces the culture of the people. Indeed, there is much assurance in the knowledge that these activities are in a continuum with the past; they show that we can always draw the best from that glorious past to shore us up for the challenges of today.

“Ojude Oba fosters unity among all Ijebu people, and this is another way in which we as a nation could take a lead from this festival. Unity is paramount; unity is key. When we are united, we achieve more. When we are united, we record monumental progress. I urge us all, therefore, to pursue more activities that will unite our various peoples.

“Our diversity is our strength. We must, therefore, continue to initiate programmes that will bring us together and further highlight the fact that we are one and the same. In over a century of Ojude Oba, Ijebu citizens have shown us that unity will always lead to progress, and that there is strength in unity. This is a shining example for us all,” Saraki noted.

While the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on his own part, maintained that the festival was about cultural reawakening and the socioeconomic development of Ijebuland and its people.

Amosun represented by his deputy, Mrs.Yetunde Onanuga, said the festival symbolised not only the rich cultural heritage of the people, but also afford the people of Ijebuland, the opportunity to display its legendary hospitality and enviable tradition, to both local and international communities.

While commending the Awujale for the success of this year’s edition, Amosun noted that the festival was a global tourists’ attraction that has boosted the profile of the state over the years and further attests to its status, not only as the industrial capital of Nigeria but also the tourists’ destination of choice.

However, Oba Adetona, in his remarks, explained that Ojude Oba was not created as an avenue for politicking, rather as an occasion for cultural and traditional exchange, calling on all sons and daughters of Ijebuland and visitors to shun actions that could tarnish the image of the festival.

Oba Adetona urged the Federal Government to explore more ways to develop the potential of tourism for the socioeconomic development of the nation.

Highlight of the festival was the presentation of keys to a brand new car to one Ayodele Dada, who won Hyundai Accent donated by the giant telecommunications company, Globacom, as a star prize for the 2018 raffle draw.

Dada, a 30-year-old Mathematics teacher at a private school in Ijebu Ode, was lucky to have won the car when his ticket was picked by the Awujale.

The joy of the Efon Alaaye born indigene of Ekiti State knew no bound as he wriggled his way through the crowd to pick the key which was handed over to him by the Senate President assisted by Glo representative, Mr Fola Aderibigbe.

Earlier, lucky winners including 40-year-old Adeyiga Adeboye, 33-year-old Oshin Oluwadara and 34-year-old trader, Dupe Saheed who won refrigerators were grateful to Globacom for giving back.

Another 40-year-old teacher, Fakeye Oluwafemi won a plasma television exclaiming “Glo is real, Glo is glorious and Glo is everywhere” while 25-year-old facility manager, Jimoh Toheeb won a generator while Ogundijo Adekunle, a civil servant won a micro wave oven.

In his speech, the Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga, congratulated the Awujale for the milestones recorded in Ijebuland in the last 58 years since he ascended the throne of his forebears in 1960, concluding “ours is such a matchless heritage.”

Meanwhile, a 200 level Accountancy student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ololade Aminat Adeiye, emerged as Miss Ojude Oba 2018.

In a keenly contested beauty pageant, 19-year-old Ololade defeated 12 others to pick the crown while Kofoworola Osoteku, an Environmental Education graduate of the University of Benin, came second with Halimah Olorode of the Economics Department of the Olabisi Onabanjo University came third.

The beauty queens were exemplars of Ijebuland and were tested on proficiency in Ijebu dialect, culture, poise, composure and general knowledge.

Egbe Tobalase Okunrin was adjudged as the best male age group and lifted the trophy. Egbe Bobamoyegun Okunrin Asiwaju came second and Bobamoyegun Akile Okunrin came third.

In the female group, Bobamoyegun Obinrin Asiwaju won the first position while Bobagunte Omooba came second and Bobagunte Obirin Gold emerged third.

In the equestrian (horse riders) category, the inimitable Kuku family came first, Balogun Shoye came second and Balogun Odunuga family emerged third.