The festival, which is being put up by the Flabsy Travels and Tours was to bring trendy features to the organisation by a way of attracting more patronage to give it an international status.
Slated for September 27 to 29, 2013, in Ile-Ife,
Osun State, Odun Oranmiyan expects to host tourists, visitors, sons and daughters of Ife to three days of cultural rebirth; dance, drumming competition and Yoruba panegyric presentation among others.
The press conference, which came up recently at the Ooni’s palace did not only show the love and togetherness of the people, but also their passion to make the celebration one of the landmark festivals in Ife as they trooped out in their numbers to support the organisers mandated by Ooni of Ife.
In his speech, the former Minister of State for Water Resources, Alhaji Bashir Awolorebo, among other royal fathers gave nod of acceptance and support for the up trend of activities to boost the celebration of Odun Oranmiyan.
Awolorebo who described Odun Oranmiyan as a cultural rebirth that will rally all Yoruba nation to promote heritage of their forbearers added that the organiser has taken a right step and called on all and sundry to give the desire support to make the festival a success.
For the Obalufe of Iremo-Ife, Oba Solomon Omisakin, who spoke with great enthusiasm, “Ife is the source of all Yoruba nation and Oranmiyan a war lord and king played a dominant role at building a great empire within and beyond the Yoruba kingdoms.
“We have to work together as one nation, to promote the richness of our heritage; nobody can do it for us. Therefore, our resolve is to support the organisers to brand the event for tourism development and benefits.”
Corroborating the words of Oba Solomon on the need to celebrate Odun Oranmiyan in a grand style, the Olu of Famia, Obalufe of Iremo-Ife, Akogun of Ife acknowledged the prominence of fourth Oranmiyan as a king and warrior of many kingdoms before ascending the throne of his father as the fourth Ooni of Ife.
According to them, “Oranmiyan’s place is second to none in the history of the Yoruba race and they beckon on all Yoruba nation to hold the celebration of the Odun Oranmiyan in high esteem.”
“Following our practical commitment to develop a sustaining concept for the festival, our Kabiyesi, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, has mandated us to promote and let the world know that Oranmiyan deserves to be celebrated as a legend, who expanded the Yoruba dynasties from Oyo to Benin and beyond.
According to him, “our histories are supposed to be a unifying factor and should not divide Yoruba people. Hence, the Oranmiyan festival should be a bond to project our cultural diversity as derivable from a source and for a purpose ordained by Olodumare.
“Our royal fathers, we are here because you are there. The festival is your festival. You are the owners of this land. We are to support you and make you happy by sustaining and celebrating our heritage for which you are the custodians.
We have to express appreciation to the sponsors who have believed in us even when our plans were still at the infancy. These include the Nigeria Bottling Company, Vitafoam, Grand Oak, West African Book Publishers among others.
Omidiora thanked the people of Ife for believing in the Kabiyesi and accepting FLABSY to promote Odun Oranmiyan. “ We will not let you down. Our friends and associates who heard that we are involved in the packaging of the festival have signified their support for the success of Odun Oranmiyan.”
On the programme of event, Mr Olabampe of Flabsy Travels and Tours said that to make the event more coordinated, registration of participants for the traditional drumming Competition and Ayo Olopon will start on September 25, at Ooni’s Palace, Ile-Nla.
“We are expecting 20 participants for the drumming and Ayo Olopon competitions, with five finalists to go home with different degrees of prizes for their skill and cultural knowledge and promotion.
On the second day of the festival (Thursday September 26), chief priests and their family members will be in their ritual regalia white robe respectively to pay obeisance to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Sijuwade.
However, the homage to the palace of the Ooni of Ife by the Chief Priests (Eredumi/Akogun) along with their families, will move in a procession for the opening of the grove.
According to Olabampe, “this year’s celebration is coming with a special festival lecture with theme, ‘Oranmiyan: What is in a name?’ to be delivered by a guest lecturer, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Osile Oke Ona, Egba at Oduduwa Hall, OAU, Ile-Ife.
“Later in the day, the participants would be entertained at the frontage of the palace where the kick-off of the traditional drumming competitions and AYO OLOPON will take place with competitors slugging out with one another.
Proposed judges for the drumming competition according to Olabampe include Dr King Sunny Ade, Mr Jimi Solanke, Chief Durojaiye Aremu who are expected to select the best five drummers for the finalists.
“On Friday 27 September, we will be opening an exhibition of traditional wares, costumes and artifacts, which will be rounded off with the grand finale traditional drummers and Ayo Olopon competitions.
“On September 28, there will be a procession led by Eredumi and Akogun around the town from the Oranmyan Staff to Lagere through Iremo to the palace and back to the Oranmyan grove where different traditional groups and chiefs will pay homage to the Ooni of Ife,”Olabampe added.
tribune.com.ng
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