Olojo Festival: Rich blend of Yoruba heritage, virtues

The commemoration of this year’s Olojo Festival in Ile-Ife, Osun State, vividly brought to the fore the rich cultural heritage and tradition of the Yoruba people as dignitaries, including traditional rulers and tourists, converged on the ancient town for the celebration.

Historically, Olojo is a sacred festival that celebrates the descent of Oduduwa to Ile-Ife and it is tied to Ogun, the quintessential deity of iron and truth, who is the father of modern science. Ogun is the Yoruba deity of iron and therefore seen as a pathfinder.

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Findings indicate that Ogun paved the way for Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yorubas and other deities. From this purview, Olojo Festival is therefore meant to commemorate the period Oduduwa and other spiritual deities descended on the earth. 

Invariably, one can safely aver that Olojo is a landmark event that predates the existence of mankind, signalling the establishment of mankind on earth, through the source: Ile-Ife, the land of expansion.

The celebration of Olojo usually spans two weeks, including seven sacred days of programmes of events scheduled for September which is the Idijo, meaning the determination of sacred dates. This is done during the first week of August, (Osu Ogun)-the month of the pathfinder deity. This is followed by Gbajure (signalling the commencement of Olojo Festival), a week before the actual date of Olojo.

Two days after these events, the Ooni of Ife, would go into a state of physical and spiritual seclusion with his ancestors, the esoteric beings and Almighty God for five days during which he does not interact with any mortal. The traditional ruler would come out of seclusion on a Friday, referred to as Ojo Ilagun, a day of earth cleansing with the Ooni’s terrestrial message to the world.

However, before he went into seclusion, as parts of the activities celebrating this year’s Olojo Festival, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who spoke to journalists, said, “I am going into seclusion now just to pray for the presidency that they should listen by providing an enabling  environment for the new economic council to do their job.”

He continued: “It is very important. In fact, we have to do it in any way we have to do it because the Nigerian economy needs to be resuscitated in a rapid manner for the betterment of our country. I am so much familiar with the pedigrees of all the members and I am so sure they will deliver only if given the free hand to work.

“As the spiritual head of the Yoruba race, I must continue to pray for the country and the government. I must also intercede for the people to support the government and for the government to work for the people. The president has to listen to this wonderful team. Every recommendation must be followed because these are experts carefully selected from all parts of Nigeria. Failure to listen to them might even draw us back.

“There are problems in Nigeria; we cannot continue to deceive ourselves because if we do so we are only postponing the evil day. It is important that we do a rapid economic transformation. We are very thankful for having a corrupt-free president and whoever that would not allow him to listen to the council will have God Almighty to contend with.”

While explaining the significance of the seven-day seclusion, the traditional ruler revealed that the Almighty God answers prayers during the period, noting that all he prayed for during last year’s seclusion, particularly for a peaceful general election were granted by God.

Oba Ogunwusi further maintained that “this time around, as the Arole Oduduwa, I am focusing more on how the Nigerian economy will be completely turned over. If you look around, you will see unemployed youths everywhere; this is the time to pay attention to these kegs of gunpowder that we are all seated upon.

“To me, I am very excited that the best decision ever made by this current government of the Buhari administration is to bring in experts for the economic council, because I know that our economic fortunes will change for good.”

However, during the climax of the colourful festival, characterised by pomp at Oduduwa House, where the Ooni’s palace is located, a mammoth crowd converged to catch a glimpse of the Ooni of Ife as he meandered through the crowd from the Emese Court, while donning the mysterious “Aare Crown.” The crown is the only physical symbol of authority the Ooni of Ife inherited from his ancestors and it is believed to be the original crown used by Oduduwa during his reign in the classical era of Yoruba history.

According to myth, it was made from many items, which included, among others, 149 undisclosed objects, cutlasses and hoes. It weighs 100 kilogrammes. The crown holds greater significance in the Olojo celebration. The Ooni of Ife is spiritually empowered to wear this sacred crown during the Olojo Festival, which is too heavy for him to bear on just any other day.

The crown, which symbolises peace, unity, blessing and prosperity, is believed to attract people to itself when the Ooni bears it. But it is forbidden, as tradition dictates, for the reigning Ooni to have even a glimpse of the inside of the sacred crown. While the Ooni dons it, he is transfigured into its true nature, Orisa (deity).

Before Oba Ogunwusi appeared with the crown, he had earlier received the procession of Ogun, Sango, Osun worshippers and adherents of other deities, who filed out in the frontage of his palace to pay him homage.

Speaking at the festival, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, tasked Nigerians to protect their cultural heritage, which he said serves as true identities of all tribes and ethnic nationalities.

The president, who said he was delighted to see how people of Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba have been so passionate and committed to the preservation of the cultural heritage, pointed out that for a society to go by its original name, it must be cultural, saying society and culture are also intertwined.

In his remark, the Osun State governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, congratulated the people of the ancient town for the success of this year’s festival, describing Olojo Festival as significant because it affords the Yoruba people the opportunity to showcase their God-given cultural heritage.

Represented by his deputy, Mr Benedict Alabi, the governor said: “Olojo Festival is promoting our culture and tradition to the whole world. The festival has shown to the whole world that Yoruba culture is very rich.”

While reiterating his administration’s readiness to ensure that the state realises its vision of developing its culture, Oyetola maintained that “we are doing so much in the promotion of our culture and we will not relent. We want the people to have confidence in our ability to get things done and support us.”

Dignitaries at the festival included the  former commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Osun, Mr Sikiru Ayedun; the lawmaker representing Ife Federal Constituency, Taofeek Ajilesoro and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye,

Others included the Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin; Orangun of Ila Orangun, Oba Wahab Adedotun; wife of former governor of Ogun State, Mrs Funso Amosun; Obalufe of Ife, Oba Idowu Adediwura; Chief Whip of Osun State House of Assembly, Tunde Olatunji, among many others.