It was the height of cultural display as the people of Odo-Nla – home and abroad – came together on 15 October to celebrate their annual Eyibi/Eluku traditional festival. The event was also used to formally launch the much-awaited Odo-Nla Day, which would also be celebrated yearly, going forward.
From as far as Europe and the Americas and Ijebu Ode where the Odo Nla people migrated from, they all gathered at the traditional Osugbo (shrine) to merry and give thanks and praises to their progenitors for yet another successful year.
The event was sponsored by the Oba-elect of the kingdom, Olusoga Elias Olowolekomoh (Fuwagbade llI).
All dressed in matching outfits (aso ebi), the people of Odo Nla performed traditional rituals to appease the ancestors. Ace comedian, Eboh Bomb and his colleague, MC Nothing took turns to thrill the large gathering. The highlight of the event was the introduction of the Agemo masquerade. It was an energetic and mysterious performance that left many awed.
In his address, Olowolekomoh described the yearly event as a major unifying factor, and called on all sons and daughters of Odo-Nla to join hands to develop the kingdom.
“On behalf of the entire household of Omo’ba Meta Royal family members, it is my utmost pleasure and delight to welcome you all in kinship to this year’s anniversary of Eyibi/Eluku cultural festival, which is an amazing annual event and celebration of our noble heritage, custom values and traditions in honour of the exquisite memories of our progenitor, as personified by Crown Prince Odeyemi Adeesho Ademuyewo (well known as Ofinran Ekun) from the Fidipote Royal Family of Ijebu-Ode, who migrated to Odo-Nla, Ikorodu, Lagos State as a legendary hunter about two centuries ago, and was subsequently crowned as a certified Oba by his father, Oba Ademuyewo Fidipote I of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State”.
The Oba-elect continued: “It has undoubtedly been validated through authenticated history that, upon royal coronation, Oba Adeyemi Adeesho Ademuyewo reigned and ruled Odo-Nla Kingdom from 1855-1887 until his demise, while his body was returned his ancestral home for burial in Ijebu-Ode by two of his three sons, Ogunlana and Afijinku. Without boring you all with too much historical facts, I must briefly reference the significant positive impacts of the re-invigorated Eyibi/Eluku festivals and celebrations within the context of our local traditional rites in paying due homages to the above named deities as harbingers of communal peace and harmony, safe pregnancy transition, and childbirth deliveries given the critical individual roles womenfolk play in the social evolution and successive regenerational expansion of our community’s health and wellbeing in general terms. Therefore, as a foremost royalty and custodian of our ancestral heritages, I am determined to continue to uphold the sustenance of this ancient customs and traditions without compromising the sanctity and integrity of the royal stool and Odo-Nla Kingdom”.
The businessman and philanthropist highlighted the significance of the traditional festival as well as the formal launch of the kingdom’s Day. He said: “I once again use this unique opportunity to allude the renewed celebrations of the Eyibi/Eluku and Launching of Odo-Nla Day Festival tradition we are holding today in commemoration of the following memories, which play a critical part in the interlocking tales and travails of our kingdom’s emergence and evolution as a foremost royalty from the cradle of our progenitor’s dynasty. On the integrity and honour of our royal Stool, I once again use this unique opportunity to reiterate my firm and unflinching commitment with the good cooperation of our joint stakeholders of the Elders and Olootu Omo’ba Meta committee members to continue to sustain every developmental strides and initiative that is critical to the fulfilment of strategic community development projects, identified for our immediate and future socio-economic prosperity, for impactful qualitative value additions to life and growths in our kingdom at large.
