Ooni of Ife revives Yam Festival after 120 years in Yorubaland

After 120 years of elaborate celebration of new year festival, the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwunsi, Ojaja II, has revived the age-long festival in Ile-ife, Osun State, being part of his Cultural Tourism Agenda for the Yoruba nation.

The Arole Oodua who joined multitude of indigenes, tourists and invited guests to revive this historical rituals in Yorubaland popularly, known as "Odun Isu” at the Ile-Oodua palace, Ile-Ife, disclosed that a deity called "Oreluere" who was one of the 401 deities sent by God(Olodumare) to establish the world was the first hunter on the planet earth that planted yam before Oduduwa supported him to make on it a success.

Ooni Ogunwusi while addressing the mammoth crowd at the festival acknowledged that God had provided all different necessary foods for sustainability of humanity and annual germination and growth of yam for human consumption.

The Ojaja II observed that the process of originality of yam production emanated from the cradle of Yoruba's, (Ile-Ife) emphasising that yam is one of the foods with high carbohydrate that gives energy to the generality.

He stated that Oduduwa collaborated with other deities on how yearly plantation would be guaranteed. He added that "Owo" dynasty also value the celebration yearly maintaining Yam Festival is a very big event across yam belt in the world, saying Yoruba cultural heritage is very keen to this.

"I charge all other neighbouring towns especially Yorubas to emulate the ancient city of Ile-Ife in making the event a continuous exercise."
"Our youths must go into hufe commercial farming as Yoruba communities are known as producers of yam for the entire world." Ooni disclosed.

He further said, "This belt is called yam belt and these yam belts produce 70% yam for national consumption, while others shared the remaining 30%. The plantation started from kingdom of Ife to middle belt of Nigeria straight to Central African Republic and other West African down to Southern Africa.

"Individual has his own capability and strength for production and Yorubas have mastered it and become the experts in yam production." Ooni explained.

The monarch affirmed that the past heroes had suffered for the sustainability of human race, therefore, urged people to crown their efforts in appreciating them by embracing farming.

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