By Princess Toyin Kolade, Iyalaje Oodua
At a time like this when globalisation and socio-cultural imperialism have forced and foisted a particular religion or faith-based fads on the majority of the people, particularly areas where colonial imperialists once upon a time planted their flags and administrative system, the cultural heritage, traditional values, pristine moral ethics, traditional etiquette and social-cultural heritage suffered neglect and relegation placing them on the edge of extinction.
Olojo, one of those ancient festivals, has survived the cultural atrophy of indoctrination and ‘civilisation’ due to its being the umbilical cord of the creation of the world which mandated its celebration by the Yoruba race, in Ile-Ife.
Notwithstanding its refusal to be submerged by foreign religions and Pentecostal faiths, Olojo was under immense pressure which diminished it in stature, but not in traditional content, value and rites that MUST be observed as laid down from the day of Ọjó̩ Ìwásẹ́.
However, Olódùmarè who is the Aṣè̩dá and the O̩ló̩jó̩ the creator of the world, the ultimate protector of his ideas and creations, always sends down a soul who will preserve, promote, enhance and project whatever deserves to be preserved from this generation for generations yet unborn.
Thus the enthronement of the current Ooni, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi in the stead of his forefathers – Oduduwa Throne in Ile-Ife was a messianic intervention in the revival of that pristine culture and values which make the Yoruba why they are who they are.
One of the most strategic cultural interventions which Kabiyesi Ooni Ojaja II embarked upon was the global branding of the Olojo Festival in 2016.
The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, on Thursday, 23 September 2016, gathered prominent Yoruba leaders in business, law, commerce, merchandising and culture to discuss the socio-cultural tourism development of the race.
The event, packaged by Infogem Ltd, in conjunction with Ife Heritage Council and tagged ‘Olojo Festival Corporate Forum’, was held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Ooni Ogunwusi had the singular honour of hosting Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief and Chief (Mrs) Kunle Ojora, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, chairman, Julie Pharmacy; Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, General Alani Akinrinade, Otunba Subomi Balogun, Chief Idowu Sofola, Prince Bola Ajibola, Chief Adebisi Adebutu Kessington, Chief Alex Duduyemi, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Ambassador Adekanye Adeigba, Chief GOK Ajayi, Prof Adebanji Akintoye, Prof Adeyemi Aderibigbe, Ambassador Omotayo Ogunsulire, Otunba Kenny Martins, Chief Amos Akingba, Mr Dipo Famakinwa, Gbenga Adefaye and others. For hours, they discussed the socio-cultural tourism development of the Yoruba race.
Since 2016, Olojo Festival has been liberated and disentangled from the labyrinth of misconception and mystery of being a mere traditional festival restricted only to the Ife community, and placed on a cosmopolitan platform for global understanding, proper perspective and generational acceptance.
Since 2016, the Olojo Festival has continued to wax stronger, beating the imagination of everyone who has had a pre-2016 celebration experience.
My father, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Ojaja II has ensured that this year’s Olojo Festival, apart from fulfilling the traditional concepts and rites, also entails economic empowerment theme, vocational scheme and youth engagement opportunities and skill acquisition for intra-generational relevance.
With the theme ‘ODUDUWA’S UNIFIED ADIRE DOMESTIC TOURISM OF ONE RACE, ONE SOURCE, ONE FESTIVAL’, the 2021 Olojo Day Festival is an epochal cultural renaissance of remarkable relevance to the stoking of Aje in Yorubaland in particular, Nigeria general and for global networking.
May the Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi live longer than his forefathers.
May the fortune of Aje, the curator of wealth and profits be with all as we participate and partake in this year’s Olojo Festival of Life in Ile-Ife.
Ajé á wọlé̩ wa o
Gbogbo wa á rájé jęun
A kú ọdún
@iyalajeoodua.
