Heritage:Ojude-Oba… A Celebration Of Ijebu’s Cultural  Heritage

THE yearly Ojude-Oba Festival has continued to be a rallying point for sons and daughters of Ijebuland at home and in the Diaspora. This year was no exception. It was a concourse of colour and razzmatazz.

Designed as an avenue to pay homage to the paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba 11, who is often referred to as Orisha Ijebu (the god or Oracle of the Ijebu nation) by his subjects, the carnival attracted over 50,000 people, who came from far and near, to be part of the feast.

As early as 9.17am, this Saturday morning, the third day of Ileya, the royal archway leading to the new palace extension built for the festival had begun to attract massive influx of celebrants of various age grades — the regberegbes — peaking by noon, with many spilling into the Afin Awujale archway on Folagbade Street and the adjoining ones, as well as the Itoro Headquarters of Ijebu – Ode Local Council.

In attendance were eminent Nigerians including, Bayelsa State governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, his age group leader Giwa Adewale Abdul, former Bayelsa State governor, DSP Alamieyeseigha, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Senator Daisy Danjuma, as well as Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, an Ijebu Princess.

Ogun Assembly Speaker, Prince Suraj Adekumbi, former Governor Gbenga Daniel, Senator Lekan Mustapha, Commissioner of Police in the state, Abdulmajid Ali, and the Chairman, First City Monument Bank, Otunba Subomi Balogun, were also present.

From exotic lace attires to matching shoes, bags, jewelries and other accessories, it was a fashion fiesta.
Wherever you turned, it was the sight and sound of drumbeats by the Ijebus in festive mood. Wandering minstrels, local drummers and entertainers, in their various groups, entertained guests for no fixed amount.

Within the arcade, it was a kaleidescope of colours, as the regberegbes sat in vantage positions and seeking attention.
By 11: 23am, the regberegbes had started to take turn to pay homage to the Awujale, who equally, poured his highly sought-after royal blessings on them without measure.
First to do this rite with rhythmic Ijebu dance step were the Egbe Mafowokan age grade, which Senator Biyi Durojaiye is a member and Oba Shafi Agbolade Sule of Odosenlu kingdom is the head.

This age grade, which is also the Awujale’s group, is well known for dorning thick fabric of ox blood colour with bold stripes, but this year, wore deep grey colour fabric.
No fewer than 25 various age grades paid the paramount ruler respect this year and they were followed by corporate organisations. Here, Globacom, the official sponsor of Ojude Oba for a decade running took the lead.

There are about 36 regberegbes in Ijebuland and over 25 of them including, Egbe Arobayo (female), Egbe Gbobaniyi (Obinrin Olori), Egbe Jagunmolu (Obinrin), Egbe Obafuwaji (Male), Egbe Obaleke, Egbe Jagunmolu Akile, Egbe Bobaniyi (male), where former Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Council, Mufutau Oseni, is the Giwa, put on an appearance this year to pay homage to their spiritual head for his royal blessings and all round fruitfulness in the coming year.

But the glamour and carnival in Ojude- Oba took an exciting and equestrian dimension by noon with the gallant parade of the Baloguns and Eleshins of Ijebuland. These are the descendants of Ijebu war heroes, who executed wars and gained major victories for them during internecine war era of the Yoruba history.

Among them are, Balogun Odunnuga, Balogun Bello Odueyungbo Kuku, Balogun Agboola Alausa, Balogun Alatishe, Balogun Otubu, Balogun Adesoye, Balogun Odejayi, Balogun Adesoye Onasanya, Balogun Towobola, Balogun Aregbesola and Balogun Ajibike Odedina.
Others are Balogun Sarunmi, Balogun Oreagba, Eleshin Keregbetu family, Eleshin Oyewole family and Eleshin Josi family – they all took turn to ride triumphantly into the Palace on horse back in the fashion of soldiers returning from a successful military campaign.

This colourful parade in succession was accompanied by intermittent ricocheting of dane guns, as each family of the Baloguns and Eleshins took turn to pay homage.
The Ojude -Oba, which was previously a Muslim religious affair in Yorubaland, took a firm root in Ijebu with the settlement of the first convert to Islam in Ijebu Ode during the reign of Awujale Adesimbo Tunwase around 1889.

And during this period and up to the time of Oba Adeona Fusigboye (1906), horse riding was not part of it. Horse riding seeped into it during the reign of the duo of Oba Adenuga Folagbade and Oba Adesanya. When Oba Sikiru Adetona came to the throne over five decades ago, he started the drive to give the festival international recognition.

This year, many of the horse riders, particularly those from Keregbetu family of Baloguns, displayed their expertise to the admiration of all.  In fact, after the wonderful displays, many had begun to suggest that enough time should be given to the horse riders to show their skill.
Themed, Harnessing our Cultural Heritage for Economic Development, this edition impacted positively on the socio- economic fortunes of Ijebuland.

Hospitality business boomed while the celebration lasted. Caterers, printers, rentals, artists, hoteliers, transporters, tailors, hawkers of souvenirs among others made brisk business, while company like Globacom used the avenue to bring its products and services closer to the grassroots.

The paramount ruler, Oba Adetona in his message, lauded his people for the peaceful celebration of Ojude Oba, which also often turn to a time draw Ijebu sons and daughters to areas needing developmental attention in Ijebuland.
He commended the chairman of Globacom, Otunba Mike Adenuga, an Ijebu son, for not only sponsoring the festival for the 10th year, but also for being an agent of positive change that has affected all facets of life in Nigeria.

He noted, “through Adenuga, thousands of jobless people now have means of sustenance He has greatly enhanced the economy of the nation through his business ventures which have grown and extended to other parts of the world.”

Also, the special guest of honour and the Vice Chairman, South Atlantic Petroleum, Senator (Mrs) Daisy Danjuma, who had her secondary education in Ijebu-Ode, described Ojude-Oba as a symbol of national unity, religious tolerance and harmony.
Danjuma commended Globacom for its support for culture and tradition exhibited through its partnership with organisers of cultural events across the nation.

While Egbe Bobaejeye (female Double T) won N500,000 as best regberegbe in the female category, Egbe Gbobaniyi Obinrin Olori and Egbe Jagunmolu Obinrin came second and third, going  home with N300,000 and N200,000 respectively.
In the male category, Egbe Obafuwaji came tops, winning N500,000, while Egbe Jagunmolu Akile and Egbe Obaleke took the second and third positions winning N300,000 and N200,000 respectively.