Okemesi to showcase 1001 masquerades in cultural-tourism festival

The historical town of Okemesi in Ekiti State is about to set world record in the cultural – tourism  event with the 2017 edition of Ladunwo festival where 1001  masquerades from all over the country are expected to gather and entertain tourists.

The largest masquerades cultural Fiesta is to commemorate the triennial celebration of a benevolence and magical Oladunwo masquerade festival.

Egungun Festival is one of the famously celebrated festival in Okemesi, it is being celebrated in memory of the departed revered ancestors who are believed to have come back in relations to bless their earthly relation.

Ladunwo festival is accorded higher recognition because of its uniqueness and majestic brilliance.

Apart from Ladunwo masquerade which was  said to be one of the powerful factors behind the success of Fabunmi Okemesi war conquests,  a warlord who was among the warriors that fought the war of liberation from Ibadan domineering influence (Kiriji war) there are other masquerades which are also being celebrated annually.In fact it is record that Okemesi is the only community in Ekiti state where virtually all wards and family compounds have masquerades.

In a bid to repackage and rebrand the Egungun Festival to a tourism event which  will attract more tourists and participants from Nigeria and other parts of the world, a committee has been  set up to facilitate and arrange a befitting routing.

At a meeting with the committee which was held in Okemesi on Saturday,, Chief Owolabi Ayowole, Chief O. Ope, Chief Titiloye Simeon. Emile, Chief Fakorede Afuye, Lagbaa and others told Tribune Tourism Magazine that the grand finale will feature dancing competition, Ayo game, and homage paying to the king.

“Our focus is re branding the festival to an international standard that willl attract people from all over the world to our community, and we know with this more development will come to our community.

“We are already reaching out to corporate organisations, government agencies and culturally inclined groups of individuals to join us in the process of rejuvenation of our cultural heritage in Okemesi.