Ijebu Ode, Ogun State – As the sun dey rise on June 18, 2024, na so people dey ready to carry their beautiful attire come celebrate Ojude Oba Festival. Dis yearly festival na big jollof for the Ijebu people, and it dey burst brain with vibrancy and unity of Yoruba culture. You don hear say na the third day after Eid-el-Kabir dem dey run this one? (Talk about a busy period!)
Ojude Oba, wey mean ‘The King’s Court,’ don turn from small gathering of Muslim faithful wey wan show respect to their king, to full-blown cultural celebration wey dey catch international attention. Na since 19th century, when Islam enter Ijebuland, dem don dey do dis party. Na so the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, still carry the tradition dey go strong, as all eyes go dey on him during the festival.
Dis event no be just ordinary show; e come complete with beautiful Yoruba attire wey dey showcase class and tell stories about the rich cultural heritage. E still dey display for the pavilion wey dem build for the king. As I dey yan, if you no wear Adire, Aso Oke, or those agbada wey dey make sense, then you go be like person wey miss the whole gist! (How far fashion police?)
After dem skip the festival for 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 wahala, Ojude Oba don bounce back strong! This year, na hundreds of people go gather from all parts of the country, ready to rock the show with their gbam! E get plenty horse riding, cultural dance, and sweet music by different artists wey go dey entertain before the king.
The horse riders, representing various Balogun families like Adenuga, Alatise, Adesoye, Alausa, and Kuku, dey shine for the event. And no forget the ‘Regbe Regbe’ parade wey dey show age groups from different families as dem dey pay homage to the Ajuwale with plenty dance, prayer, and gifts. Na serious show of Yoruba heritage wey everybody dey ginger!
But my padi, make I no lie, this parade no be just for fun; participation na hardcore competition! Groups like Gbobaniyi, Bobagbimo, Gbobalaye, and Obafuwali dey run fight to show who go shine pass and carry prizes from sponsors. E no dey easy at all o! (Na serious business, I swear!)
Ojude Oba no just dey spread culture, e dey bring serious economic benefits come for Ijebu people. Hotels and guesthouses dey full up with both local and international guests wey wan chop the experience. Corporate bodies no dey sleep on top this opportunity, as dem dey sponsor various parts of the festival, adding their brand shine to the festivities. The streets dey beam with brand signs, making sure say visitors fall in line for expectations.
With the importance of Ojude Oba, security agencies go deploy enough security for the venue to ensure say everything gree well and nobody go dey misbehave. As we dey look forward to this year’s edition, e go surely display plenty class and Ijebu culture wey go make everybody proud. No dulling for this celebration!
So, if you dey plan to attend, make you ready to chop jollof, as Ojude Oba na correct vibing world wey nobody fit miss! The Ogbonge cultural celebration of Yoruba, no be small tin!
