One of the greatest festival in Yoruba land and for which the Ife Kingdom and ancient town of Ile-Ife is known is the Olojo festival. It is the time to reflect on the people's socio-cultural lives of the kingdom and have also contributed immensely to the historic values of remembrance of “Ogun”, god of Iron, who is believed to be the first son of Oduduwa, progenitor of the Yoruba people.
Every year a whole month is devoted to it. Olojo began three weeks ago with His Imperial Majesty Alayeluwa Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife AROLE ODUDUWA goes into seclusion, denial communing with the ancestors and praying for his people. This is to make him pure and ensure the efficacy of his prayers. Before he emerges, his female relatives sweep the Palace and it surrounding, symbolically ridding it of evil.
On the eve of the main event, he emerges in public with the Arè(pronounce A-ray) crown (King’s Crown), which is believed to be the original crown used by Oduduwa to lead a procession of traditional Chiefs and Priests to perform at the Shrine of Ogun. The next stage of the ceremony is to lead the crowd to Okemogun’s shrine. Here he performs duties including the renewal of oath, divination for the Ooni at the foot of Oketage hill by Araba (Chief Priest), as well as visiting places of historical importance.
At the shrine, the Kingdom's traditional chiefs with the swords of office marked with chalk and cam wood, appear in ceremonial attire and dance to rhythms from a traditional drum, the Bembe which style of drum and singing is different from one chief to the other. Whilst the Ooni dances to the drum called Osirigi.
And the grand finale was celebrated on September 27th and 28th with the main events taken place at the Ife Palace. On these days the Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi accompanied by his wife Her Imperial Majesty Olori Silekunola Moronke Naomi Ogunwusi, YEYELUWA OF THE SOURCE, were receiving people and distinguish guests.
This is also the time when The Ooni adorns his clothes like his ancestor Obalufon Ogbogbodirin, the 4th Ooni of Ife, who lived for over 500 years. After reigning for centuries, he was transformed into a deity.
Every year a whole month is devoted to it. Olojo began three weeks ago with His Imperial Majesty Alayeluwa Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife AROLE ODUDUWA goes into seclusion, denial communing with the ancestors and praying for his people. This is to make him pure and ensure the efficacy of his prayers. Before he emerges, his female relatives sweep the Palace and it surrounding, symbolically ridding it of evil.
On the eve of the main event, he emerges in public with the Arè(pronounce A-ray) crown (King’s Crown), which is believed to be the original crown used by Oduduwa to lead a procession of traditional Chiefs and Priests to perform at the Shrine of Ogun. The next stage of the ceremony is to lead the crowd to Okemogun’s shrine. Here he performs duties including the renewal of oath, divination for the Ooni at the foot of Oketage hill by Araba (Chief Priest), as well as visiting places of historical importance.
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| The Ooni with the Are |
At the shrine, the Kingdom's traditional chiefs with the swords of office marked with chalk and cam wood, appear in ceremonial attire and dance to rhythms from a traditional drum, the Bembe which style of drum and singing is different from one chief to the other. Whilst the Ooni dances to the drum called Osirigi.
And the grand finale was celebrated on September 27th and 28th with the main events taken place at the Ife Palace. On these days the Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi accompanied by his wife Her Imperial Majesty Olori Silekunola Moronke Naomi Ogunwusi, YEYELUWA OF THE SOURCE, were receiving people and distinguish guests.
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| Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and his wife HIM Olori Silekunola Moronke Naomi Ogunwusi |
This is also the time when The Ooni adorns his clothes like his ancestor Obalufon Ogbogbodirin, the 4th Ooni of Ife, who lived for over 500 years. After reigning for centuries, he was transformed into a deity.
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| Her Imperial Majesty looking majestic at the Olojo Festival |
