SOURCE OF RIVER OSUN (IGEDE-EKITI) AND THE WORSHIPPER'S DANCE
Before the advent Christianity, Igede Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Govt Ekiti State, Nigeria had been the ancestral home of the legendary Osun, Elemi pond and other historical spots that are relevant to the origin of the community. According to oral literature passed from one generation to another, the popular Osun Osogbo actually left its source Igede Ekiti as a result of disagreement with her siblings in Igede Ekiti and settled in Osogbo, in the current Osun State. In fact, Igede Ekiti deserves a special place on Nigeria’s tourism map, if our potential is well harnessed. When Igede Ekiti people left Ile-Ife, they were consulting the oracle as they were coming to the ideal place to settle until their oracle identified Oke Esu as their home. They settled there and were living in peace until their father and king Ake died. After the demise of Ake, his offspring, who were sixteen in number, couldn’t agree on who would succeed their father. The disagreement led to commotion and things fell apart. At the end of the day, they turned to different things, including rivers and ponds. Ibaja entered the ground, while Orunro, Elemi, Ogbese and Osun turned into water and found her way to Osogbo after leaving Sango, her husband in Oyo. At Osogbo, she ran into a troubled community, who sought her help. Her intervention paid off as the calamity in the land subsided. Of course, the people begged her to stay and she obliged. That is why till date, prayers are being answered at the Osun Osogbo grove. At her source in Igede Ekit, prayers are also being answered till date. A recent example was the case of a female professor from the University of Ibadan. The woman came to Igede Ekiti wailing that she wanted to pray at Osun Igede Ekiti spot for child and we introduced her to Iya Osun and the Aworo of the river. She came back a year later for appreciation with her baby that the prayer had been answered.
EKIFEST 2019: Committee Reveals Activities At International Press Conference
THE Central Planning Committee of Ekiti State Cultural Festival (EKIFEST) has unveiled the activities lined up for the 2019 edition of the festival.
EKIFEST 2019 is slated to hold between the 11th and 13th of December, 2019 with the theme “Arts and Culture: Tools for Restoration of Values and Socio-Economic Empowerment.”
The Festival Consultant, Professor Rasaki Bakare while addressing an international press conference at the NUJ Press Centre, Ado Ekiti on Monday said the event will commence on 10th December.
According to him, “a pre-EKIFEST programme has been scheduled as the kiddies programme and it will witness the engagement of children from selected schools across Ekiti State.
“We have provided a platform to educate our children to imbibe our qualitative cultural attributes. Children should also be allowed to grow our culture through the promotion of the virtues of Omoluabi. Therefore, a pre-EKIFEST programme has been scheduled as the kiddies programme and it will witness the engagement of children from selected schools across Ekiti State.”
Other activities lined up for the programme include: Local Government Arts Exhibition/cuisine/bush bar completion, traditional poetry, freestyle carnival, Traditional Games and Sports, Fun ride to Ikogosi Warm Spring , Colloquium/workshop[, Ekiti Cultureprenuer, Kegites Gyration, Taste of Ekiti, Ekiti dress fashion show and command performance Ifajuyigbe ( A stage play) heritage carnival parade, and musical concert by both guest and local artiste.
Ojo Bakare maintained that “It is necessary at this point to state clearly that EKIFEST is not an exhibition of fetish or idolatry practices but an economic and social strategy, It is a way to celebrate and promote the State as a unique citadel of cultural values and tradition which should not be only enhanced for this generation but preserved for many more yet unborn.”
“We want to let the world know that Ekiti State is blessed with a lot of potentials both natural and cultural. EKIFEST 2019 is going to be a unique experience” He added that We want to host the world and give our visitors a taste of our hospitality, our tasty traditional cuisine and our hygienic waters. Our friendly weather, awesome hills, opulent vegetation and health-giving breeze are part of the products we are selling to the world.
Dignitaries expected at the events include South West Governors and their counterpart from Benin, Delta, Kwara and others, Minister of Information Culture and Tourism Alhaji Lai Muhammed, Director-General National Council for Arts and Culture and Director-General Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).
In his remark, the Director-General Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture Amb Wale Ojo-Lanre said the festival is designed to showcase talents, potentials and Arts in Ekiti.
“We are moving Arts and Culture from mere entertainment to economic development and income generation for Ekiti state. We are ready to host the word, already over 20,000 people have signified their interest to be part of the event and we are expecting more,” Ojo-Lanre said.