The Oju-Ode Oba Festival

 

Photo credit: Google

By: Eniola Falomo

Ojude oba is an ancient festival celebrated by the Yoruba people of Ijebu-ode, a town in Ogun state, southwestern Nigeria. This annual festival usually takes place the day after Eid - al - Kabir (Ileya). It is regarded as one of the most spiritual and glamorous festivals celebrated in Ijebuland and generally in Ogun state as a whole.

During the festival, different cultural age groups and associates from far and near provides at the front of the king's palace. The third day of Eid - al - Kabir festival is popularly referred to as Ileya in the Yoruba language.

Oba Adetona was the one that brought back the age, groups in the 18th century into the generally accepted phenomenon that is found along today's Ijebus, this has become an integral part of the yearly ojude oba festival in Ijebu.

Ojude - Oba which means king fore-court in the Yoruba language is usually celebrated with pomp & pageantry by about 1,000,000 people from different parts of the world and Nigeria, especially those of Yoruba origin and most especially by people of Ijebu descent all over the world

Edited by:  Adebayo Nurudeen

Published by: Mondiu Sharifat