Osun-Osogbo Festival: Southwest governors, Yoruba people urged to revive culture

Abimbola Abatta, Osogbo

Southwest governors and Yoruba people have been tasked to be awaken to their cultural heritage as traditional worshippers and tourists converged for the grand finale of the 2021 Osun-Osogbo festival

Osogbo was at a standstill on Friday as scores of adherents and tourists within and outside Nigeria escorted the votary maid (Arugba) to pay homage to Osun goddess.

The crowd moved from the palace of Ataoja of Osogbo located at Oja-Oba to the groove at Isale Osun, thanking the goddess for the blessings received and praying for more blessings in subsequent years.

Addressing journalists, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, who noted that Osun Osogbo festival is a brand on its own, urged the southwest governors to promote cultural festivals and heritage.

He also tasked Osun State Government to upgrade the Groove to an international standard “as it is done in Brazil and other Caribbean countries.

“All the six governors in southwest have the capacity to promote the cultural festivals and heritage of their respective states. Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos states are blessed with different heritages and festivals,” he added.

Also, speaking, cultural enthusiast and traditionalist, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, the Araba of Osogboland, charge the Yoruba people to revive their cultural heritage and employ it as an instrument of protection.

In his words, “My message to all Yoruba people is to discover ourselves. We must uphold tradition and culture which Eledumare gave to us. Osun is part of our culture and I encourage all other Yoruba land to awaken to revive their culture and festival to be able to communicate with our ancestors, Eledumare and all our divinity for maximum protection against all evil.

“We need to be more alert and protect ourselves traditionally. Not just only to go to church and mosque for prayers, we need to use our traditional means to protect ourselves,” he added.

On his part, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, urged the Osun state government to reinvent the glory of the Osun Osogbo Festival by providing the support that is needed to make Osogbo the business hub of the state.

The Ataoja maintained that the festival ranks among the best in the world and remains a source of attraction for tourists.