The wife of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Queen Ademiluyi Ogunwusi has debunked claims that festivals in the ancient town are fetish.
Speaking during the grand finale of the two-day 2024 Ayan Agalu (drum fiesta) organised by the House of Oduduwa in collaboration with Aafin Ilu and the Queen Moremi Initiative, Ademiluyi noted that the festivals in Ile-Ife are means of honouring great people and the drum fiesta is to celebrate Ayan Agalu, the deity of the talking drum.
She said: “His Majesty (Ooni of Ife) is trying so hard by making sure that these festivals are portrayed positively because a lot of people perceived our festivals as fetish, they are not a fetish; we are just honouring those who did the great things.
“Ayan Agalu Festival was the patron deity of drumming, especially the talking drum. So we’re here to celebrate the rhythm. The beats of drumming remind us of our ancestors, who worked so hard to ensure that our culture doesn’t go into extinction”.
She disclosed that the festival kicked off at Obafemi Awolowo University in collaboration with the Institute of Cultural Studies, where they had a trainer drumming workshop.
An executive member of the House of Oduduwa Foundation, Prince Adekunle Adeyemi urged the government to tap into the potential in drums on the revenue generation.
