Olojo festival is the biggest annual event of the Yoruba, Ifes to be precise. On this occasion, Ooni appears after seven days of seclusion, not communicating with anybody except the spirits of about 600 god
On the first
day which usually falls in Friday is called Ilagun day where a dog will be
appeal to "ogun" the gods of iron by the Ogun chief priest called
Osogun and the custodian of oro, Obawara at theOke-Mogun shrine.
On the
second day of the major event of the week, usually the Saturday of the event
week, Ooni appears with the special ancestral beaded Oduduwa crown called Aare
on his head only once in a year during this festival as he leads the crowd to
Oke-Mogun shrine to appease the gods for safety and protection of all sons and
daughters of Ife, Yorubaland and nation at large.
It is
believe that every prayer offer on this day and merely having a glimpse of the
ancestral crown shall be answer.
On this
special day the Lokolokos are the Ooni's bodyguards during the festival.
Time for the
festival is usually indicated by the movement of the Sun in the month of
October from the West to the East and it is only the Olojo chief priest identifies
the particular day to celebrate the festival. The 2016 olojo festival which
will kick start in less than 48hours.
Meanwhile
the 51st monarch and the present Oonirisa, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye
Enitan Babatynde Ogunwusi has add flavor glamour and class to this year
festival with a total renovation of all nooks and cranny of Ile Ife.
Beautiful
landscaping in various junction o the city with flowers and decorations.
Also the
present renovations and landscaping going on in front of the palace has really
compliment the the newly crafted entrance of the palace which has over the
years proven as one of the best architectural designed for royals.
indeed Oba
Enitan Ogunwusi is a man of history as it has also been proven that his tenure
has been a very huge turn around in all spheres of life for the ancient city,
Ile Ife.
It will
recalled that less than a year of Oba Ogunwusi reign he has empower thousands
of youths, widows artisans cutting across borders of Ile Ife. Procurement of
mass transit buses to cushion the effect of transportation system in Ife and
the state, plating over 1millin cocoa seedlings, establishment of soft loan for
artisans and market women, establishment of a resort center to generate income
and establishment of affordable housing estate for indigenes and friends of Ile
Ife among several other projects. Indeed Arole
Oodua Enitan Babatunde
Ogunwusi has put Ife on
radar of world history.
story by: Tope Eluyefa
story by: Tope Eluyefa
A se olojo ka gba wure o
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