Stakeholders rally round the people of Osun State for the 2013 edition of the Osun Osogbo Festival, AKEEM LASISI writes.
Cultural display, dramatic reconnection with the past, musical shows and more await indigenes and tourists at this year’s Osun Osogbo Festival, which will reach the climax on August 23, 2013. The annual UNESCO-rated festival, which will start in Osogbo, Osun State capital, on August 8 is one of the most successful cultural spectacles that grew from the people’s love for their heritage.
Among other highlights, apala music star, Musiliu Haruna-Isola, will perform, especially during the Atupa Oloju Merindinlogun – lighting of the 16-eyed lamp event. But other artistes are also billed to perform on different days, with the Chief Executive Officer of Infogem Ltd, official marketers of the festival, Chief Ayo Olumoko, saying that members of the Performing Musicians Association are set for the rite of cleansing and blessing that the festival symbolises.
That the entertainment aspect of the Osun Osogbo 2013 goes beyond music became evident on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ forum held in Lagos. At the event held at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, excursed into history to establish how the festival came into being. He expressed delight that Osun State Government and the business community have continued to support the cause of the people by investing in the feast.
In his address at the occasion, the Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Tourism and Culture, Mr. Ladi Soyede, assured tourists due to attend the festival from different parts of the world that the stage is set for an exciting experience.
He noted that one of the issues that usually cause challenges, the compact nature of the grand finale arena in the Osun Grove, has been resolved. According to him, the Aregbesola government has expanded the stage to accommodate more people, while other infrastructure, including access roads, has also been upgraded.
He also said that a new film powered by the government, titled Osunfunke, will be premiered in the course of the festival. The producer of the film, talking drum artist Ara, was also present at the forum, alongside other musicians and actresses that include Doris Simon.
The festival will feature a football competition, the Iwopopo (traditional cleansing), an art exhibition, a music concert, golfers’ cocktail night, Iboriade (the Ataoja’s crowns assemblage) and advocacy on HIV/AIDS and hospitality business.
Officials of sponsors such as MTN, Grand Oak and Nigeria Breweries assured Osun people and Nigerians at large that they were prepared to contribute to making the festival a success.
Culled from Punch
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