The ancient town of Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State came alive with fanfare, grandeur, and cultural glamour as people dressed in different colourful cultural attires celebrated the Ojude Oba (The King’s Forecourt) Festival on June 18, 2024.

This year’s edition of the annual event had the theme— Ojude Oba: Unity and Harmony, Our Gift— was held, as usual, on the third day of Eid-al-Kabir, at the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona’s pavilion in Ijebu-Ode.

The festival usually includes activities such as the parade of the ‘Regberegbe’ known as the age groups, horse riding, and colourful dances.

Over 90 age groups turned out in glamorous attire, and the Balogun Kuku family eventually won the parade for the eighth time in a row, and were awarded a N500,000 cash prize, sponsored by Globacom Nigeria, a long-standing sponsor of the festival.

Aside from the cultural display by different regberegbe’, other activities that caught the attention of many, included a horse displaying impressive dancing skills, which people gathered to watch. The horse danced gallantly to the drumbeats, stamping its hooves on the ground.

All this happened as the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, sat regally and observed the proceedings with pleasure.

Notable guests at the event included the Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan Motors Limited, Olutoyin Okeowo; Group Chief Executive Officer, FCMB Group Plc, Ladi Balogun; and Non-Executive Director of FCMB Group, Prof Oluwatoyin Ashiru.

Other dignitaries were a former governor of the state and incumbent Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Gbenga Daniel; veteran fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, aka K1 De Ultimate; and other celebrities such as Femi Branch and Wumi Toriola, among others.

Expressing his administration’s commitment towards making the festival a global event, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun said, “Ojude Oba festival is not only a cultural heritage for the indigenes of Ijebuland, it has now become a significant event that attracts local and foreign tourists to Ogun State, showcasing our hospitality and enviable tradition of Ijebuland to the national and global audience.

“This festival serves as a symbol of our unity, tourism and a rallying point to all the Ijebu sons and daughters to celebrate our tradition, culture, and revered monarch.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has announced plans to list the festival as one backed by UNESCO.

The Minister of Culture, Arts, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa-Musawa, who was represented by the Director of Cultural Agencies and Heritage, Ben Anama, noted that the annual festival was a platform for fostering the unity of the country, and one of the country’s tourism potentialities, adding that Nigeria could tap into it to diversify the economy from oil, and generate more resources.

The festival is known to boost the local economy by attracting thousands of visitors, which in turn benefit businesses, artisans and vendors.

The festival began in the late 19th century as a small gathering of Muslim converts, who wanted to thank the Awujale for allowing them practice their religion freely. Over time, it has grown into a major event.