Glitz, Glamour at 2023 Ojude Oba Festival

Travel and Leisure

Charles Ajunwa  writes that this year’s Ojude Oba Festival sustained its tradition of showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Ijebus

Travellers on the Ijebu Ode axis of the ever-busy Benin/Lagos Expressway last week would have come across different messages announcing the 2023 edition of the Ojude Oba Festival. Right from the flyover at the popular Ijebu Ode Junction to the second flyover leading into the ancient town, all the roads, streets, roundabouts, homes and business centres all wore a new look. All the strategic points within the ancient town were littered with giant billboards and banners having the inscriptions of ‘Ojude Oba Festival 2023’ and photographs of His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona (Ogbagba II, Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland), including those of important personalities, age groups and major sponsors of the annual socio-religious event. The air of celebration was felt all over Ijebuland.

With a clement weather on Friday, the whole town was agog as sons and daughters of Ijebuland and visitors from all walks of life trooped to the Awujale Pavilion, venue of the annual Ojude Oba Festival. Security operatives stationed at different points within the town especially those at the entrance leading to the festival venue had hectic time controlling the mammoth crowd who came to pay homage to the Kabiyesi, Oba Adetona who has been on the throne of his ancestors for 63 years and one of the longest serving kings in Nigeria. Originally, the Ojude Oba Festival used to take place at the Oba’s palace but it was moved to its permanent location which has better facilities to accommodate the increasing number of guests yearly.

There was a rainbow of coulours within and outside the pavilion as different groups dressed in their traditional attires maintained decorum sitting on their allocated seat arrangements by the organisers of the festival. Apart from melodious sounds echoing from local drums, children, youths and the elderly danced to the rhythms from a live Yoruba musical group who entertained the surging crowd throughout the festival.

The atmosphere was further electrified at exactly 9.40a.m. with the arrival of Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who walked round all the stands exchanging pleasantries and taking photographs with different age groups.

As soon as Governor Abiodun settled down on his seat, the master of ceremony announced the National Anthem which was followed by the Ogun State Anthem (Ise Ya), Awujale Anthem/Oriki Ogbagba. After the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheikh Miftahudeen Gbadegeshin Ayanbadejo said the opening prayer, the Special Guest of Honour, Sir Clement Olu Okeowo and his wife, Lady Grace Adesola Okeowo were introduced, and Chairman, Ojude Oba Festival Committee, Otunba Wahab O. Osinubi welcomed all the participants.

Different age grades (Regberegbes) who participated in the parade, one after the other paid homage to Alaiyeluwa, Awujale of Ijebuland, who blessed them.

Other groups like Balogun Families and horse riders, Osi Balogun, Otun Balogun and Balogun of Ijebu Ode and horse riders who wore unique warriors’ costumes also paid homage to Awujale.

History of Ojude Oba

Ojude Oba which means “the king’s fore-court or frontage” could also be translated as “majestic outing”. The Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu Ode is known to the Ijebus as a major festival that brings them together. The native age group (Regberegbe)) indigenes, their friends, and associates from far and near throng the palace of the Awujale of Ijebuland for the carnival-like celebration. The festival is celebrated on the third day after Id-El-Kabir. Ojude Oba is one of the most glamorous cultural and spiritual festivals in Ijebuland and in Ogun State in general. This is a celebration that has traditional, cultural, religious, social, and military significance. It has been celebrated for more than 100 years.

The reigning monarch, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Ogbagba II, Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland who was crowned on the 2nd of April 1960 has succeeded in rejigging and rebranding the festival into a global brand. The festival is not only all about opulent parade of culture and tradition by Ijebu sons and daughters who usually parade in their magnificent cultural robes, and the equestrian display by the families of warlords and warriors who defended the Ijebu nation in the years of yore against enemy incursions or wars and raids. The annual festival provides the Ijebu people and visitors, and their well-wishers the opportunity to supplicate to the Almighty God, take stock of their activities, embark on self-help projects, and reunite with family members and acquaintances.

In addition, this festival boosts commerce and trade in its entirety, as commercial and trading activities are at their peak before, during and after the festival. The festival touches every sphere of life in Ijebuland and environs. All the facilities – hotels, restaurants, artisans, craftsmen, transporters, professionals, market men and women are fully occupied before, and during the festival.

Choice of Theme

The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Otunba Wahab Osinusi, revealed that the theme of 2023 Ojude Oba Festival theme: ‘A Lesson in Religious Harmony’ was predicated on the relentless emphasis and prodigious impact of the festival on promotion of religious coexistence and harmony among Ijebu people. According to him, religious harmony provides a viable basis and clear roadmap for social transformation, cultural liberty and economic prosperity to thrive boundlessly. “So, the choice is very apt, germane and relevant to the phenomenal intent and purpose of the modern day Ojude Oba proudly spearheaded by Kabiyesi Awujale Oba Adetona,” he stressed.   

Awujale’s Message of Peace and Unity

Oba Adetona who was physically present to welcome all his guests, in his welcome address, first, thanked God Almighty for the unending mercies showered on all, and for the steady growth, peace and tranquility being enjoyed across the length and breadth of Ijebuland.

“The atmosphere of peace being enjoyed across Ijebu communities and Nigeria is a commendable feat, particularly in the face of daring challenges experienced by all of us in recent times. Unarguably, Nigeria will survive.

“The Regberegbes, both existing and those making their maiden appearances today, I thank you so very much. I also make bold to say that Balogun and Eleshin families have been wonderful in both past and present times through their immeasurable contributions which have always made this festival a unique global brand in every ramification.” 

Adenuga’s message

Chairman of Globacom Limited, Dr. Mike Adenuga, in his goodwill message said the Ojude Oba Festival is a testament to the religious liberality in Yorubaland.

“The religious liberality which is one of the hallmarks of the success of the Yoruba race is a major feature of this festival which has become a heritage not only to the Ijebu, but to the entire Yoruba nation in Nigeria and in the Diaspora. There is hardly any Yoruba family today which is either totally Muslim or totally Christian. Every family in the Yoruba nation has a fair mix of both religions with some embracing the African Traditional Religion without prejudice. It is common, therefore, to see families celebrating all the major religious festivals including Christmas, Easter, Eid-El-Fitri and Eid-El-Kabir and, of course, Ojude Oba, with equal conviviality.”

Runsewe Praises Ijebu National Museum,

On the sidelines of the festival, Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, who toured the Ijebu National Museum located within the Awujale Pavilion, praised the Curator, Wanda Ibru and her team for doing a brilliant job in preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Ijebu.  

Runsewe also presented a souvenir to the Awujale and later presented a plaque to Ibru during his familiarisation tour.  

The NCAC boss, who is President of World Crafts Council for African Region, implored other states to take a cue from the Ijebu National Museum, saying states should be able to tell their stories to tourists and cultural critics.

“What we are trying to do now with this in-house museum, is to encourage other states to take a cue from it so that they can have their own museums and when people come to their states, they have stories to tell tourists and cultural critics. For me, this is absolutely commendable and that is why I gave a plaque today (yesterday) to the Ijebu National Museum for doing a great job. For reminding us, if you don’t know where you are coming from it will be difficult to make progress.”