Oba Arasanyin adopts USE Ogosi Festival, seeks Ondo govt recognition

By Boye Oyeyemi –

The Ajana of Afa Okeagbe, Oba Mofolorunso Adegboyega Arasanyin, has formally adopted the USE Ogosi Festival as a major cultural heritage of Afa Kingdom and called on the Ondo State Government to grant the celebration official recognition and support.

Speaking during the 2026 USE Festival held in Ogosi, Afa Okeagbe, the monarch described the annual event as the first cultural festival in the Afa calendar and a vital symbol of the people’s history and identity.

Addressing chiefs, elders, and community members at home and in the diaspora, Oba Arasanyin praised the consistency with which the festival has been sustained, noting that it has strengthened unity and cultural pride within the kingdom.

He commended the people of Ogosi for preserving the tradition over the years, saying the festival has continued to grow in organisation, cultural richness, and communal participation.

The monarch also applauded the USE Ogosi Cultural Committee, led by the Chief Bashorun of Afa, for introducing innovations that have expanded the festival’s relevance and positioned it for wider recognition.

Oba Arasanyin paid tribute to the late Chief R. F. Giwa for his contributions to the festival’s growth and acknowledged community leaders, including Asiwaju Otunba Solomon Ayodele Oladunni, for their commitment to preserving the kingdom’s cultural heritage.

Chairman of the festival planning committee, Bashorun Akinwumi Bada, said the 2026 edition marked a turning point as scholarship awards and economic empowerment initiatives were introduced to ensure that cultural celebrations deliver tangible benefits to residents.

The event featured colourful cultural displays and performances by the Ondo State Cultural Troupe, drawing applause from guests, while community leaders urged government support to promote tourism and harness the festival’s economic potential for the state.