Ile-ife, the cradle of the Yorubas was on Saturday received hundreds of people who storm the ancient town from all walks of life to celebrate this year’s edition of the Olojo festival.
The event, which was held at the palace of Ooni, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi was characterized with series of colourful activities that made the programme a classical one.
Different entertainments laced with traditional connotations like acrobatic dancing, traditional sings renderings amongst others were displayed to make the occasion more engrossing.
Also, worshippers of gods invoked and appeased their deities to pray for unity of the cradle of the Yorubas and the Yorubas in general while different traditional poetries also rendered to praise the gods of the land.
Speaking at the event, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, prayed for divine unifications of the Yorubas and invoked gods and goddesses of the land to protect Yoruba people wherever they may found themselves.
He prayed with the name of Almighty God and all the deities in Ife kingdom, the cradle of the Yoruba land to seek for Yoruba people’s protection and divine harmony among them for advancement of the kingdom.
Speaking with newsmen at the grand finale of the event, the South African monarch lamented over lack of unity among African countries, saying “only a United African could conquer the world”.
“Wherever you are as Africans, let’s come back to our homes. You don’t need to run away from your home. Our own problem is our problem and we need to face and solve it as a people. Genuine solution would not come from outsiders but from us.
“With our rich natural, human resource and culture, if we are united, we can conquer the world and the continent would reclaim its rightful place globally”, he said.
Also speaking, Osun state’s Commissioner for Political and Inter-governmental Affairs, Biyi Odunlade said, “the essence of Olojo festival was to celebrate African culture and traditions.”
“The Essence of Olojo festival is to celebrate us as a race. Celebrate our language, our culture and traditions, hence, the people rally round the Ooni to ensure that our culture and traditions are adequately preserved”, he concluded.
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