The 2024 edition of Ogun State’s festival of colour, Ojude Oba, is underway at the Oba Sikiru Adetona pavilion in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebuode local government area of the state.
The festival in its over a decade of existence has continued to be a rallying point for Ijebu sons and daughters to appreciate the Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, for his purposeful leadership.
It has also ensured teamwork in the socio-economic and political development of the ancient town.
This year’s event is being attended by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, members of the state executive council, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; his wife, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland; chief Sunny Kuku, captains of industries, and tourists among other distinguished personalities.
About 76 different age groups are expected to pay homage to the traditional ruler, to express their loyalty and respect for the monarch.
A former governor of the State Olusegun Osoba, and the senator representing the Ogun-East Senatorial district of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel were also in attendance.
Ojude Oba (The King’s Forecourt)
Ojude Oba is an ancient festival celebrated by the Yoruba people of Ijebu-Ode, a major town in Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. This annual festival usually takes place the third day after Eid al-Kabir (Ileya), to pay homage and show respect to the Royal Majesty, the Awujale of Ijebuland. It is one of the most spiritual and glamorous festivals celebrated in Ijebuland and generally in Ogun State as a whole.
During the course of the festivities, different cultural age groups known as regberegbe composed of indigenes, their friends, and associates far and near parade at the front courtyard of the king’s palace on the third day of Eid al Kabir popularly referred to as “Ileya” in Yoruba language. Oba Adetona was the one that brought back the age groups in the 18th century into the general acceptable phenomenon that is found among today’s Ijebus, and this has become an integral part of the yearly Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu. The reason for the age groups was to bring development and progress to the community.
Ojude Oba which means king’s fore-court in Yoruba language is usually celebrated with Pomp and pageantry by about 1,000,000 people from different parts of the world and Nigeria, especially those from Yoruba origin and most especially by people of Ijebu descent all over the world.
