A visit to Ile Ife, Osun State without seeing the Opa Oranmiyan is like going to an Abeokuta, Ogun State, without seeing the Olumo Rock. This is particularly so if the person is a tourist.
The preservation of the mythical staff is one of the ways Ife people demonstrate continued allegiance to Oranmiyan, the legendary ruler and warlord whose fame has echoed in various books, plays and films.
The fact that Oranmiyan, said to be the fourth Ooni of Ife, however, meant more than this to the people is coming to the fore as they are set to celebrate the Oranmiyan Festival.
From the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, to other traditional rulers, culture promoters, and scholars in and around Ife, the people are in high spirits for the event holding between September 26 and 29.
When the consultants to the festival, Flasby, rallied stakeholders to the palace of the Ooni recently, they expressed support for it, with the elders noting that the festival would offer an opportunity to ‘reclaim’ Oranmiyan as an Ife icon. A former Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Bashir Awotorebo, who was the chairman of the occasion, commended Flasby and the other organisers for the initiative.
He recalled some of the exploits of the legend, including his sojourns to Benin and Oyo, where he was said to have been a king at some points of his life.
Awoterebo noted, “So, what Flasby has started is in the right direction. It is a way of putting things in the right perspective. Oranmiyan should be celebrated in Ile Ife.
“Monarchs, including the Olu of Famia, Oba Kamoru Akinyele, said all hands must be on deck to save African culture from erosion by forces of modernity.
“When we talk about culture and tradition, we all know they are important. But we are losing ours to western tradition. That is sad for the royal heritage. The idea of this festival is thus very important.
“According to history and research, Oduduwa and Oranmiyan belong to Ife. Oranmiyan was Oduduwa’s son, and he was named Odede at birth. He was the most blessed among Oduduwa’s sons. He was also a war hero. So, if you organise any Oranmiyan Festival outside Ife, it is an aberration.
“Today, we are making history. Thanks to those who conceived the festival. No one can organise the Oranmiyan Festival without taking permission from the Ooni. He is our unifying father.”
While the Jagunosin of Ife, Chief Johnson Akindoyin, also highlighted Oranmiyan’s other links to Ife, one of the directors at Flasby, Mr. Biodun Olabampe, said the company started as a marketer of ancient sites such as the Opa Oranmiyan. He added that the Ooni’s intention for the Oranmiyan Festival is to explore it to foster unity among dynasties.
“Kabiyesi’s vision for the festival is to see a united Yoruba race,” he said; adding that the Rauf Aregbesola government of Osun State has also endorsed it.
He noted, “Ife has many cultural sites and the festival will make these further popular. We are, therefore, happy that the royal fathers, scholars, women and several corporate organisations are supporting us.”
Naming such organisations to include Nigeria Bottling Company Plc, the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Grand Oak Ltd. and West African Publishers, Olabampe said the festival would begin with a homage to the Ooni’s palace.
The same will be accorded the Eredumi Akogun and all custodians of the Oranmiyan heritage; while the festival lecture will be delivered by the Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso. There will also be an exhibition by artists and a traditional drumming competition.
Also at the event were the Obalufe of Ife, Chief Solomon Omisakin; a retired professor of anthropology, Prof. Awogbade; a top member of the Ife Development Board, Prof. Adewusi; and Oba Sijuwade’s Chief Press Officer, Mr. Funmilola Olorunsola.
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