The Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Rasak Adenugba, has called for stronger engagement between traditional institutions and the younger generation, urging governments at all levels to provide greater support for the preservation, promotion, and development of indigenous culture.

The monarch made the call yesterday during the annual Eruken Festival in Ago-Iwoye, an age-long royal rite observed by the Ebumawe and members of his family.

Unlike festivals that involve the entire community, Eruken is traditionally regarded as a palace affair, with its spiritual and cultural significance closely associated with the stool of the Ebumawe.

The annual observance provides an avenue for the monarch and his family to fulfill a longstanding traditional obligation while also reinforcing the historical and spiritual connection between the palace, the people, and their ancestors.

For Oba Adenugba, however, the significance of Eruken extends beyond the fulfillment of a royal responsibility.

He said the festival provides an important opportunity to reconnect the people, particularly the younger generation, with their ancestry, history, and the cultural values handed down by their forebears.

The monarch noted that the growing influence of modern lifestyles and global culture on young people had made it imperative for traditional institutions to find new and effective ways of communicating the relevance of indigenous traditions without compromising the sanctity of established customs.

He said the large turnout of indigenes during the festival demonstrated the enduring importance of cultural heritage to the people of Ago-Iwoye.

According to him, sons and daughters of the community came out en masse to celebrate the annual Eruken Festival and pay homage to their forebears, who, he said, had contributed to the unity, development and progress of Ago-Iwoye.

The Eruken Festival is an annual cultural observance in Ago-Iwoye centered on spirituality, ancestral remembrance, communal identity, and development.

Organised under the authority of the Ebumawe, the festival serves as a cultural link between the present generation and the founding fathers of the kingdom.
Oba Adenugba identified three major pillars underpinning the festival: spiritual renewal; communal unity and identity; and cultural preservation and tourism.

He explained that the spiritual dimension of Eruken remained central to its observance, noting that the rite provides an opportunity for the palace to honour the ancestors and renew the traditional bond between the living and those who came before them.

The monarch also emphasised the role of the festival in strengthening communal unity, saying cultural events such as Eruken could help reinforce a shared sense of identity among the people, particularly at a time when changing lifestyles and global influences were increasingly reshaping the way younger people relate to indigenous customs.

He further stressed the tourism potential of the festival, arguing that the preservation of traditional rites could provide opportunities for cultural tourism, local enterprise, and economic development if properly supported and promoted.

Oba Adenugba also drew attention to the historical and cultural relationship between the Ebumawe dynasty, the Osemawe of Ondo, and Ile-Ife, widely regarded as the cradle of Yoruba civilisation.

He said the observance of similar traditional rites in Ondo at the same period underscored the historical links that exist among Yoruba communities and their traditional institutions.

The monarch added that such connections should be properly documented and preserved as part of efforts to ensure that younger generations understand the historical foundations of their communities and the wider Yoruba cultural heritage.

He noted that the palace should not be viewed by young people as a distant institution concerned only with ceremonies and traditional titles, but as a custodian of the history, identity, values and collective memory of the people.

“Traditional institutions must continue to evolve in the way they engage the younger generation, without compromising the sanctity of our customs,” he said.

According to him, traditional rulers have an important responsibility to ensure that young people understand the meaning and relevance of cultural practices rather than allowing indigenous traditions to become disconnected from the generation expected to preserve them.

He called for greater collaboration between governments and traditional institutions in the preservation of cultural heritage, saying stronger institutional support would enable communities to sustain festivals and other indigenous practices.

Oba Adenugba explained that the government support for cultural institutions and festivals could help strengthen traditional practices, promote tourism, create opportunities for local businesses, and project the cultural identity of communities to a wider audience.

The monarch also highlighted the importance of security to the successful observance of the festival, noting that adequate security arrangements were necessary to protect residents, visitors, and participants before, during, and after the celebrations.

He commended the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Ogun State Commissioner of Police for their contributions to maintaining peace and security around the palace, in the state and the country.

Oba Adenugba particularly acknowledged the role of the police leadership in ensuring a peaceful environment during the festival, describing the relationship between the palace and the police authorities as one built on mutual respect and cooperation.

He said the Ogun State Police Command had continued to demonstrate commitment to the protection of lives and property, adding that peace and security remained essential to the survival and successful celebration of traditional festivals.

For the sons and daughters of Ago-Iwoye, including those living outside the community and in the diaspora, the annual return to the palace represents more than a ceremonial homecoming.

It is a reaffirmation of their ancestry, their relationship with the throne, and their connection to the cultural heritage of their forebears.

The festival also provides an avenue for different generations to interact and for younger members of the community to witness traditional practices that may otherwise become unfamiliar to them as a result of changing social and cultural influences.

As the latest edition of the Eruken Festival comes to an end, the Ebumawe said the challenge before the traditional institution was to preserve the sacred character of the rite while ensuring that its wider cultural significance remained relevant to younger generations.

Oba Adenugba maintained that preserving indigenous traditions should not be seen as an attempt to resist modernisation but as a means of ensuring that development does not come at the expense of a people’s history and identity.

He urged the people of Ago-Iwoye to continue supporting the palace in preserving the community’s customs and traditions while calling on younger generations to take greater interest in their cultural heritage.

The monarch maintained that the continued observance of the Eruken festival would remain an important part of the palace’s responsibility to the ancestors and future generations.

He expressed optimism that with stronger institutional support, effective engagement with young people, and greater recognition of the tourism and economic potential of indigenous festivals, Ago-Iwoye could further project its cultural heritage beyond Ogun State and Nigeria.

For the Ebumawe, the enduring value of Eruken lies not only in the annual performance of an age-old rite, but also in its ability to remind the people of where they came from, strengthen their bond with one another and preserve the cultural inheritance they are expected to pass on to generations yet unborn.