Ojude-Oba Cultural Festival Celebrates Rich Heritage and Promotes Tradition in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, Nigeria

 Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin Age Group Shines in the Annual Festival

Toheeb Shittu

The vibrant and culturally rich town of Ijebu-Igbo recently came alive as the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, HRM, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adedeji Adebayo, Ojuromi VI, played host to the annual Ojude-Oba Cultural Festival, a celebration of tradition, heritage, and community unity. The festival, which takes place on the third day of the Ileya Muslim festival, saw thousands of locals and visitors, including prominent sons and daughters of the town and politicians, gather to honor their history and showcase the town's cultural diversity.

One of the standout features of the Ojude-Oba festival is the presence of various age groups known as "Egbe" in Yoruba. This year, the Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin showcased their commitment to preserving and promoting the culture and traditions of Ijebu-Igbo.

The Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin age group is made up of distinguished men and women who have made significant contributions to the community. They play a vital role in the Ojude-Oba festival by showcasing the town's cultural heritage through their elaborate attire, music, dance, and performances.

During the festival, members of the Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin and other age groups paraded in colorful traditional regalia, reflecting the splendor and elegance of Ijebu-Igbo's cultural history. The men adorned themselves in agbada (flowing robes) and fila (traditional caps), while the women showcased the exquisite iro and buba (wrapper and blouse) with matching gele (headgear).

In addition to their visual display, the Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin age group also took the opportunity to educate festival attendees about the customs, traditions, and values that have shaped the town's identity. Through engaging performances, they highlighted the significance of cultural practices such as storytelling, drumming, and traditional dances, fostering a sense of pride and unity among the community.

"The Ojude-Oba festival is a momentous occasion for us to celebrate our rich heritage and strengthen the bond that unites us," – Giwa

Otunba Olayemi Emida, the Giwa of the Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin age group spoke with newsmen during the event. In his words, "Egbe Bobabgunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi is one of the age groups under Regberegbe-in-council and it falls between 1^st January 1980 – 31^st of December 1982. The significance of the group is to assist ourselves and also promote the regality and elegance of Ijebu royalty. We use this group to celebrate our kings because it is one of the ways our forefathers used it in building society. 

We are honored to be ambassadors of our culture and tradition, and we strive to pass on this legacy to future generations." Giwa noted that it is important for everyone to promote the essence of kingship and the bond that strengthens them as a society. He also said that the Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin have numerous plans to bring needed facelift across different sectors in Ijebu-Igbo town.

“We put it upon ourselves to promote the town since we now have a King”- Asiwaju

Another prominent member of the Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin, Asiwaju Adegboyega Onasanya, explained that because of the absence of a King in the town for about 28 years, it has been hard for true development to take effect and this has also caused people from the town to always go to Ijebu-Ode during Ojude-Oba celebration. “But since the emergence of the current Orimolusi, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba, we have decided to put it upon ourselves to come together and celebrate ourselves, our town and the royal essence of Ijebu-Igbo as a whole”, he said.

Asiwaju explained further that there is need for unity and sense of purpose among indigenes of Ijebu-Igbo home and abroad so they can actualize the dreams of putting the town on the map again. “We have plans to build amusement parks and recreational centres at strategic places in Ijebu-Igbo very soon and by God’s grace, we know it is achievable” he concluded.

 “The Ojude-Oba Cultural Festival serves as a platform for Ijebu-Igbo to showcase its cultural diversity and attract tourists from far and wide”- Secretary

The Secretary of the Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin Orimolusi, Gunwa Kunle Odusina, while speaking to newsmen explained that the Ojude-Oba festival fosters unity among the different age groups, as they come together to celebrate their shared heritage and values. “If you look around, you see different people from all works of life. We have people in the academics, health, government and other sectors amongst us so it is a combination of everyone who is under the age group and who is interested in building Ijebu-Igbo town.” he said.

Gunwa Kunle explained that it is necessary for all Ijebu-Igbo citizens to promote the cultural heritage of the town, asking all indigenes of Ijebu-Igbo who are far away to come back home and support the activities that would gradually help place Ijebu-Igbo on the same page with other Ijebu towns like Ijebu-Ode which is known for its huge way of celebrating the Ojude-Oba festival yearly.

I am so happy and thankful to God for this event because it is our first year of entering the palace- Iyalode

The Iyalode of the Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin Orimolusi, Mrs Ibrahim Abisola Omowunmi expressed her happiness for the celebration of Ojude-Oba in the town. She noted that although it is the first time that the group will be going to the palace, the group has huge plans to carry out in developing the town. “One thing that stands us out as a group amongst others is our sense of unity and the sincerity that we use in engaging ourselves. The love we share is projected to the community and I will use this medium to advise other upcoming groups to show love and use it as a tool to grow the community in their own way” she said.

Majority of those who are here are first-time age-group members- Akogun

According to the Akogun of the Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin Orimolusi, Gunwa Ayodele Talabi, most of the current members of the age-group are new members. He said they saw the need to form the group and certify it at the palace because of the presence of a new King in the town. He said that the prominent Ijebu sons and daughters of today decided to stay back in the town to develop it even though they had other things to invest their time and resources into. 

“The love for our town and its growth is the reason why you see many of us here today, investing time and efforts in building the town and eventually, we will be leaving legacies for the new generation of Ijebu descendants who do not only carry the identity but also give back to the society where they come from” he concluded.

Orimolusi should call on prominent sons and daughters of the town to build it- Balogun

The Balogun of the Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin Orimolusi, Gunwa Adakeja Sunday Olayinka, while speaking with newsmen, suggested that the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo town, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba should call on prominent sons and daughters of the town to assist in building it up. Balogun explained that the King needs to advise other people who are abroad or far away to come back to the town and do something significant.

“The reasons why we are all here today is because we have also planned to build a lasting legacy of physical projects and other things to help the development of the town. Scholarships for students, recreation centres and other things are in the works and we can only do more and achieve more if we have people join us on this quest to make Ijebu-Igbo great”, he said.

This year’s Ojude-Oba is a step ahead from what we had last year- Chairman, Ijebu-North

The Chairman of Ijebu-North Local Government, Honourable Bolaji Oluwaseun Odusanya has heaped praises on the organizers of the event, noting that it was bigger and better than what was experienced last year. The Chairman noted that this year’s Ojude-Oba festival was the second since the enthronement of the new Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba and from the glitz and glamour witnessed; it showed brilliance on the part of the organizers.

Honourable Bolaji told newsmen that the side attractions, brand collaborations, and other notable activities made the event amazing and it shows that “we have grown”. He said “Today’s event shows that the future is bright since a lot of sons and daughters are coming back home to identify with the town. The Orimolusi as you can see, was so elated that we put up something as big as this. 

This is a sign of growth from what we had last year and the sense of unity in the town will play a remarkable role in its growth. There are new age-groups springing up and I say big well done to the organizers, and I also wish every resident of Ijebu-Igbo, happy Ileya festival and happy Ojude-Oba celebrations”.

The Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba while addressing the crowd, expressed joy and happiness for the successful outcome of the event. He appreciated the presence of the guests which included the Secretary of the Ogun State Government, Mr. Olatokunbo Joseph Talabi, the Member Representing Ijebu-North, Ijebu-East, and Ogun-Waterside Federal Constituency, Honourable Joseph Adegbesan; Senator Lekan Mustapha, Senator Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka, former Commissioner for Health, Ogun State, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, Council of Baales, Regberegbes, Artisans, sponsors that also included Trophy Beer, Seaman, Adron Properties and sons and daughters of the town.

He appreciated the efforts of Ijebu-Igbo indigenes like the owner of the telecommunications company, Globacom; Chief Mike Adenuga, the President of African Development Bank; Akinwunmi Adesina, and others who have done and promised to build infrastructures in the town. Orimolusi concluded by imploring the people of the town to constantly promote the image of the town in their respective fields and also give back to the town at every point in time.

As the festivities drew to a close, the vibrant colors, rhythmic beats, and joyous atmosphere of the Ojude-Oba festival left a lasting impression on all who attended. The Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin age group, with their unwavering commitment to preserving culture and tradition, played a crucial role in making this year's festival a resounding success.

As the sun set on the Ojude-Oba Cultural Festival, the Egbe Bobagunwa Asiwaju Orimolusi Okunrin ati Obinrin embraced their cultural roots with pride, enjoying the music and dance, delivered by Alhaji Sulaimon Adio Atawewe, Afrosonic, and others whilst also renewing determination to preserve their heritage for generations to come.

Find other pictures from the event below: