IWUDE-IJESA FESTIVAL: YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW A big revival and celebration of cultural, political and economic life of an ancient community in central Yorubaland enters its fourth edition this year. Ijesaland, one of the earliest and most influential kingdoms sharing borders with Ile-Ife, the ancestral home of the Yoruba, is about to restore its primacy in Yorubaland, Nigeria and the world. Expectedly, the platform for the renewal is coming from its rich ancient culture, which once dominated East and Central Yorubaland, for centuries. Through its unique and foremost festival of reunion, Iwude (Assembly of the people) the Ijesas are set to open a new chapter of unity, cooperation, development and celebration of the best traditions of their present and past heroes and heroines, across the six local government council areas in Ijesaland. Other festivals heralding Iwude in other Ijesa towns are Obalogun in Iloko, Oniyo in Osu and Opa in Ipetu. The Iwude Ijesa festival of unity, is therefore a climax and convergence of culture, tradition and communion of pomp and pageantry, usually year-long, but coinciding with the annual end-of-year home-coming and regular “pilgrimage” into Ijesa communities by professionals and Osomaalos, who are mostly big-time traders and businessmen in Nigeria and the Diaspora. These Osomaalos, who have dominated trade and commerce in Nigeria for centuries, especially in South-West Nigeria, usually prefer the end of year breaks to consummate their weddings, lay foundations of buildings, make new investments and remember their heroes, heroines and forefathers. Determined to make this year’s Iwude a memorable homecoming, for Ijesa sons and daughters in Nigeria and diaspora, the “Iwude Planning Committee” has lined up various socio-cultural programmes and artistes to thrill and entertain the audience in an all day open-air carnival, around the ancient Ilesa city. The carnival will also be enriched with incisive reflections and prayers from all faiths, in order to chart a new era of peace, prosperity and strong bond of unity. Royal fathers, spiritual leaders, socio-cultural clubs and political leaders have resolved to make this year’s Iwude a day-long inter- denominational grand finale at the Owa Obokun Palace Square, Ereja, Ilesa. The rebranded Iwude would also be preceded with a month-long traditional exchange of visits among the royal fathers, including homage of Ipole, Ibokun, Ijebu- Jesa, among others. The Iwude carnival will feature motorized floats and parades of clubs, societies and communities, attired in different colours of fabrics. The audience will be treated to day-long feasting on freshly fried popular Akara-Osu i.e. bean cakes and would be entertained by the traditional Adamo-Ijesa music, as well as indigenous musicians and comedians like Paul Play, Ayo Balogun, Chief Niyi Ajeomobi, Chief Oladimeji Komolafe, Chief Adedara, Akanbi Aliu and Baba Sala. Corporate sponsors including those managed by Ijesas have pledged to give out, display and promote their products and services, in partnership with the planning committee. The rebranding into Iwude festival, instead of the two-century-old Iwude Ogun festival, got the approval and blessing of His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, the Owa Obokun and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland because of what the royal father described as the need to encourage inter-denominational participation of the people across political and religious divides. The Iwude Grand Finale Day on is the only day when the Ijesas will have another opportunity to meet with their paramount ruler, in the original traditional regalia, beaded crown and sword of success handed personally to Owa Ajibogun by his father – Oduduwa, for his chivalry. No Yorubaman, or historian, worth its salt, will fail to remember that, Owa Ajibogun, the first king in Ijesaland, who though the youngest of Oduduwa’s children, was “the last man standing” in Olofin Oduduwa’s final battle to regain his sight in the very old age. Following Owa Ajibogun’s unusual courage, valour and untainted loyalty, the hallmark of every Ijesaman, he miraculously came back after a torturous journey, with the magical brine (Sea water from Lagos) demanded to restore Oduduwa’s sight. The feat fetched him some rare secrets of Oduduwa and what can be compared with the Biblical final blessings of Isaac on Jacob and his descendants. Since Owa Ajibogun achieved this feat, and received these blessings, as the only son that witnessed Oduduwa’s final burial the Ijesas have never ceased to lead the way and show the light, wherever they are found. Drawing on the collective will of eminent leaders across the six local government council areas in Ijesaland, the “Iwude Planning Committee” therefore took up the challenge of strengthening the bond of unity among the communities with passion, by mobilizing the royalty, the councils, clubs, the private sector, trade groups and artisans. These laudable efforts have since engendered a renewed sense of belonging and sustainable communal spirit. With the endorsement of the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, his brother obas in Ijesaland and positive disposition towards moral and financial support from the six Ijesa local government council chairmen and well-meaning sons and daughters of Ijesaland, the fire of revival is already burning from Ipole to Owena, Ijebu-Jesa to Imesi-Ile, Ipetu-Ijesa and Esa-Oke to Iperindo! The battle cry in the markets, beer parlours and social circles have been, how Ijesaland must bury their differences and once again, regain the lost glories as pace-setters in commerce, finance, politics, arts, entertainment, education, tourism and spiritual development. In charting the way forward, the “Iwude Planning Committee” has spared no effort in engaging eminent royal fathers, sons and daughters in deep reflections, research and soul searching. The “Iwude Planning Committee” also tapped on previous attempts by the Ijesa Improvement Society (Egbe Atunluse), the Restoration Group and leadership qualities, which earned Owa Ajibogun, Seriki Ogedengbe, Balogun Fabunmi Imesi and others like them, the fame, fortune and influence, far beyond Yorubaland! Research by the “Iwude Planning Committee” has revealed, for example that some of the greatest philosophers of medieval times were Ijesas. They included Pa Agirisasa, Ode Abugan and the renowned Ifa Priest, Ologunkutere, who was credited with consolidating the ruling lineage in modern day Eko, now Lagos. The brilliant thoughts and submissions of these “oracles” gave birth to the modern economic systems in Nigeria today and that was why Ijesa Osomaalos dominated trade and commerce from River Congo to River Gambia and from Lagos to Timbuktu. With their own version of the “Hire Purchase” and unique “Finance and Loans Schemes,” they were christened Osomaalos, for kick-starting many small and medium scale businesses, which formed the fulcrum of the dominance of the Nigeria economy by the Yorubas today. The earlier dominance by the Ijesas in the textile trade had been followed then by the introduction of ready-made dresses for the first time in the sub-Saharan Africa. The continued dominance of the tourism, entertainment and cultural sectors by Ijesaland is also under focus. The Erin Waterfall, which gave Osun State the former tag, State of the Living Spring:, apart from other exotic tourist sites, are already attracting the interest and attention of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). Meanwhile, the exploits of great musicians and musical icons like Late I.K. Dairo, Baba Sala, and Late Baba Ara, to mention a few, remain evergreen legacies worthy of celebration and consolidation. Still dwelling on the Tourism sector, the “Iwude Planning Committee” believes that, since the fire of Pentecostalism was ignited in 1930 by Prophet Ayo Babalola in Ikeji- Arakeji in Ijesaland, millions of Christians have turned Ijesaland into their New Jerusalem, especially with the endless pilgrimage to Ikeji-Arakeji by Christians of all faiths. No wonder, an average Ijesaman will assert so confidently that Ijesa language is the only language spoken by God and Ijesaland the abode of God! The “Iwude Planning Committee” has been quick in supporting this claim as they always reel out a list of world-wide spiritual leaders who have emerged from Ijesaland since Ayo Babalola. They include, living and late legends like Pastors Enock Adeboye and W.F. Kumuyi of the Redeemed and Deeper Life Churches, respectively, as well as Prophets T.O. Obadare of blessed memory, Gabriel Fakeye, S.K. Abiara, as well as late Sheikh Ajagbemokeferi of blessed memory. The great men, they added are not limited to the spiritual realm, the lists are virtually endless – late Justice Kayode Eso (Rtd) of the Supreme Court and Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (former ICPC boss) to mention a few. In education and public service are, Late Prof. Hezekiah Oluwasanmi, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, Prof. (Mrs) Bolanle Awe, H.S.A. Adedeji, late Adeyemi-Bero, Oba Oladele Olashore, late Chief Bola Ige, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Ambassador Isaac Aluko-Olokun and Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Erelu Olusala Obada also to mention a few. Located on a plain of fertile land and inundated by the tributaries of Osun River and an almost year-long rainfall, Ijesaland produces abundant food and cash crops like cocoa, coffee, palm oil, timber, kolanuts and tubers. Iperindo, Igun and Itagunmodi in Atakunmosa local government council areas are also homes to the largest and purest Gold deposits in Africa! It was no surprise then, that these natural resources attracted the greatest men in Nigeria to Ijesaland from where some of them had their breakthrough in life. They include, Justice Alfa Belgore, Dr. (Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru, Chief Lateef Jakande, Chief Sunny Odogwu, late Chief Ashamu and the Odutolas. The “Iwude Planning Committee” ascribed this prosperity of the last century to these great men – indigenes and aliens alike. And collectively, they left landmarks like Trophy Beer (Oti Oniyan), Ijesa kolanuts, Ijesa mats (Eni Ore), Bean Cake and Pounded Yam which were sought after in Nigeria and beyond. The challenge therefore before all Ijesas, according to the “Iwude Planning Committee” is how to further explore the rich human, natural and cultural endowments and heritage of the people to forge lasting and sustainable unity and development. All Ijesa sons and daughters, friends and associates must therefore not be left out in the crusade to use Iwude as a catalyst to harness the abundant human and natural endowments of Ijesaland.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 03:35:17 +0000
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