The Governor of Osun State, Mr Gboyega Oyetola is expected to lead all ethnic personalities and diverse nation representatives in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, in the maiden edition of ‘Walk for Osun’ programme to herald this year’s annual Osun Osogbo Festival on Saturday, July 27, 2019.
The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, made the announcement on Tuesday, adding that the walk, a carnival procession of stakeholders around Osogbo, would take off at Better Life, Isale, Osun, Osogbo by 8.00am with top government functionaries as part of the exercise.
He disclosed that traditional rulers, cultural icons, all ethnic personalities and nations, groups and associations, traders, artisans, market men and women, sons and daughters of Osun had signified their interests to be part of the walk for Osun, which is one of the several activities lined up to celebrate the annual festival.
The Ataoja explained that the walk has become necessary in view of the internal upheavals and security challenges currently facing the country, noting that the programme is to promote unity and peaceful cohabitation among all the ethnic nationalities in the state.
Oba Oyetunji said that the protection of Osogbo and Osun State as a whole is among the positive things the Osun Osogbo goddess had bestowed on Osogboland.
He said the walk would herald the 2019 Osun Osogbo festival with the pre-festival programmes commencing on August 5, 2019, stressing that the festival grand procession to Osun grove would hold on Friday, August 16 and there would also be an all-white party and award night afterwards.
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According to him, the pre-festival activities would begin with the traditional cleaning of the city (Iwopopo) on August 5 and the lighting of the mystic 16 points lamp on August 8, while the festival activities would commence on Monday, August 12 with the Assemblage of Crowns (Iboriade).
He added that the Arugba Berth ceremony would hold on August 13, the same day that tourists would have the opportunity of touring the cultural and historical sites in the state.
The activities, according to Oba Oyetunji, would also witness the native Ayo game, football competition finals, Arts and Crafts Fair and children’s fiesta at the palace pavilion on August 14, with the Ataoja’s Chieftaincy Coronation and Osun Festival Tourism forum rounding off the programme on Thursday, August 15.
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