ADEDIWURA Stephen Olanrewaju, a star actor in Showmax’s telenovela, ‘Wura’, will participate in the Asa Day Festival in Canada in October.
This is courtesy of the convener of the Asa Day in Canada, Omooba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye (Baba Asa).
The annual event tagged ‘Asa Day’ is organised by ASA Day, Inc. Canada, in conjunction with the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Oyatoye is also sponsoring overall winners of the Ayangalu Drum Festival recently held in Ile-Ife – Onilu Kisi Ooni – to the programme in Canada.
While Adediwura’s manager, Peter Aliu, will also be part of the trip, the winning troupe consisting of Olajide Oyinlola Abiola, Ganiyu Emmanuel, Sunday Olusoga, and Alesinloye Posi will also feature.
Commenting, Adediwura, who plays Olumide (aka Cobra) in ‘Wura’ and was a judge of the Ayangalu Festival competition, thanked Oyatoye for the upcoming trip.
“I am thrilled that Omooba Oyatoye has invited the winners too. It is a big plus for the drummers because the Asa Day celebrations will widen their horizons. I also hope to be able to impact the programme and network with other stakeholders positively,” he said.
Adediwura was one of the judges of the competition aspect of the event hosted by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
According to him, drums are a phenomenal heritage of Yorubas and Africans. “You know that our drums are not just for music and dancing alone,” Adediwura said.
“They convey messages. They inspire people. Some have religious connections. And depending on the mood, context and the drummers, drums can invoke conflict and inspire peace. So, you can imagine how glad I am to be part of the Ayangalu Festival, especially with the Oonirisa himself, our Kabiyesi Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi, at the vanguard of bringing development to the unique aspect of our culture.”
Olori Ronke Ademiluyi is the convener of the festival. The history of the Ayan-Agalu Festival is as fascinating as any other drum festival staged across the globe.
With many healing, educative, entertaining and prosperous cultural festivals, the Yoruba are among the most endowed races, with rich and prestigious traditions and cultures.
One such celebrated and prestigious cultural festival is the Drum Festival – (Ayangalu Festival). The origin of Ayan Agalu dates back to the epoch when the Yoruba primogeniture, Oduduwa, descended on the earth at Ile-Ife. Ayangalu was said to have descended next to Oduduwa at a historical place called Atiba, and this accounts for why Atiba remains the hub of traditional drummers in Ile Ife – Yoruba ancestral abode – to date. ‘Ayangalu’ refers to the ‘spirit or god of the drum’.
This year 2023’s edition had in attendance notable culture enthusiasts. While Bisola Omoge Bata emerged as the face of the Ayan Agalu Festival with a car gift to show for it, Onilu Kisi Ooni consisting of Olajide Oyinlola, Abiola, Ganiyu Emmanuel, Sunday Olusoga and Alesinloye Posi won the competition with their electrifying drums performance.
The victory earned the group a cash gift of N500, 000 and, for further encouragement to their craft, they will attend the Asa Day 2023 in Canada in October.
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