#Olojofestival2019: Oonirisa , Oba Ogunwusi appears in public after 7 days seclusion, wears sacred Aare Crown
Oredola Adeola |
The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, on Saturday, September 28, 2019 appeared after observing the seven-day annual seclusion, communing with his ancestors and praying for the entire Yoruba race and the world at large.
Recall that lle-Ife is the ancient Yoruba city in south-western part of Nigeria, located in present-day Osun State. The city is described as the epicentre of the world, and is seen as the cradle and ancestral land of the Yoruba speaking people.
The annual Olojo festival is one of the festivals celebrated in Ife kingdom. It is a celebration of the deities and God( Eledumare), acknowledged as the owner of the day(Oni ojo).
Oba Adeyeye at around 4pm, on Saturday, appeared in the public with Aare crown (king's Crown) the first and only royal beaded crown bequeathed on successive Oonirisa by Ogun, who was once an Oonirisa.
The 4000 year old Aare Crown, is said to be the only physical symbol of authority inherited by the Ooni of Ife. It is believed to have been made from sacred items, such as cutlasses , hoes and 149 other objects.
Adorning the Aare Crown,being an annual ritual, Oba Adeyeye led a procession of traditional Chiefs and priests to all the important shrines within and around the Palace of Oonirisa and later to Oke Mogun and Idi Aje shrines, amidst cheers and praises from the indigenous Ife people and guests. He also received several gun salutes from local hunters and vigilante group.
According to Oba Adeyeye, the Olojo festival is the dawn of creation. He disclosed that the festival serves as the biggest festival on cultural calendar of the Ile-Ife people.
All Ife indigenes at home and abroad always come together to worship Ogun, the progenitor of Ife 'Odaye' (Ife at the inception). Olojo festival has remained popular in Ile-Ife because of its myth and history.
The festival is celebrated every year in Ile-Ife, while the monarch performs the usual ritual and supplications to Eledumare on behalf of the people and land.
The 2019 Olojo festival with the theme: Developing our cultural heritage for sustainable domestic and international tourism patronage", started on Friday 27 and ends on October 1, 2019.
The Saturday event, was attended by Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who represented President. Muhammadu Buhari, Osun State Deputy Governor, Mr Gboyega Alabi, who represented Governor Gboyega Oyetola, other guests are the Obi of Awka (Anambra State) Eze Austin Ngwu, Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedotun, Oba Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, Oba Ajero of Ijero, Speaker of Osun State Assembly, Consular General of Netherlands, Timothy Owoeye, traditionalists, foreigners among others.
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