Ojúde O̩ba Festival moves to Èjìgbò, Ọ̀ṣun State

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Colour, culture and camaraderie marked the inaugural Ojúde O̩ba festival in Ejigbo, Osun State, leaving a lasting imprint in the hearts and minds of all those who bore witness to this historic event. Traditionally celebrated in Ijebu, Ogun State, the festival found a new home in Ejigbo, Osun State breathing life into the town’s cultural landscape and drawing its scattered indigenes back to their roots.

Ojude Oba Ejigbo festival was born from a desire to rejuvenate Ejigbo through global unity and collaboration. With ambitions of fostering agro-industrial investments and government support, the festival aimed to be a transformative force in the town’s future.

Horse riding, a unique aspect not limited to any particular town, was a thrilling spectacle that captivated attendees.

The festival was the brainchild of members of Ojúde O̩ba Èjìgbò Festival Foundation, who are indigenes of Ejigbo based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, who sought to put their beloved town on the map.

Local businesses and artisans benefited from the influx of visitors, as attendees patronised the locals, selling varieties of goods.

The event saw an influx of people from far and wide – from Abidjan and Lome to the UK, Congo, and indigenes all over Nigeria, Ejigbo was alive with the spirit of togetherness.

Speaking exclusively with our correspondent on the maiden edition of the festival, Olayide Raji, Chairman of Ojúde O̩ba Ejigbo Festival Local Organising Committee, said the idea was born out of a desire to bring Ejigbo indigenes together, promote agro-industrial investments and seek government intervention.

Raji noted that since the last Ejigbo Mekun in 2017, there had been no major gathering of the people, making the festival a necessary unifying force.

The festival, according to him featured horse riding, a prominent aspect of the celebration, which is expected to continue in subsequent editions.

Raji also hinted at incorporating other cultural elements, such as Egungun and Sango festivals, into the celebration.

“Egungun festival and Sango festivals are celebrated here in Ejigbo. We are hoping to incorporate these two and other cultural elements into the festival as time goes on. We featured horse riding prominently this year and we hope to continue with it in the years ahead. And please note that horse riding is not peculiar to any particular town in the country.”

He further said that the festival aimed to showcase the culture of Coted’Ivoire and Togo, countries with significant Ejigbo indigene populations, revealing that Ejigbo indigenes in these countries had adopted their host cultures and wanted to share them with their hometown.

“We want to bring the culture of our host countries, Coted’ivoire and Togo, to Ejigbo for the purpose of the festival. As an indigene, you must know that our second home is Coted’Ivoire followed by Togo. Ejigbo indigenes in those two countries are more than those of us at home. So, our people have adopted the culture and we want to showcase them during the festival.”

He disclosed that the maiden edition was a huge success, attracting attendees from Abidjan, Lome, UK, Congo, and various Nigerian cities as luxury buses and smaller vehicles brought people from Abidjan, with many more joining virtually on social media platforms, “in fact, attendees from Abidjan and Lome at the festival were more than the people who attended from within Ejigbo.”

When asked if there is an anticipation that the festival become an annual tradition, he said “it’s going to be an annual event by the grace of God. We have decided on the Saturday after ileya celebration to celebrate the festival each year.”

On the economic impact to the community, Raji also said, “It is in our plans to encourage our people who have their businesses outside Ejigbo to come home and display and sell their products during the festival at discounted rates. It will be a win-win situation for the producers and the consumers.

“It will boost the economy of Ejigbo township. During the festival this year, those people patronised the locals who sell varieties of goods. The marketers and the traders smiled to the banks after the festival.”

He added that the initiative to have Ojúde O̩ba Èjìgbò festival came from the members of Ojude Oba Ejigbo Festival Foundation who are indigenes of Ejigbo based in Abidjan, Coted’Ivoire.

“The festival will project Ejigbo positively to the outside world. And again, people will know that there is a town called Ejigbo in Osun State and not the Ejigbo in Lagos.”