The festival’s theme is ‘culture as a unifying factor in nation building.’
Yoruba people and other Nigerians are enjoined to attend to the programme that is packaged with various landmark events specially designed for all shades of age grades in the ancient town where it is believed that the first creation of man took place.
Oranmiyan was one of the seven sons of Okanbi, the only child of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yorubas. The legend, Oranmiyan, despite being the grandson of Oduduwa was famed as a strong and enigmatic leader who led his people into a path of greatness that lasted several centuries, leaving a heritage that sustains till today.
After establishing some dynasties and several wars and conquests, Oranmiyan returned to Ife, the cradle of the Yorubas and was the sixth Ooni of Ife. He later joined his ancestors. The place where the staff of Oranmiyan lies in Ile-Ife, located in Osun State, Nigeria, is now a centre of tourist attraction. This great legend that has continued to shape the destiny of a race deserves to be celebrated as a unifying force for the Yoruba people.
Oranmiyan is a unique name that has occupied a column of Yoruba history as a warrior, conqueror and legend; arguably the most deified of the whole Yoruba deities. He was the only Yoruba king that was confirmed to have established other towns, like Benin, Oyo and Oke Ona-Egba, became their kings at different times and later returned to his origin, THE SOURCE, and also became a king before his eventual transformation to eternal glory. The generations of Oranmiyan have continued to rule in Ile –Ife as kings till today.
As an organisation committed to the development of tourism in Nigeria, FLABSY Travels & Tours is the festival consultant and has been mandated to explore all creative means to ensure that through the festival celebrations, Oranmiyan Staff/cenotaph becomes a tourist haven, enlisted in the calendar of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation and the world tourism calendar thereby achieve a top-of-the-mind festival event for Odun Oranmiyan and create awareness for Ife indigenes at home and abroad to use the platform to drive cultural investment opportunities to Ile-Ife.
The Oranmiyan staff/cenotaph as a tourist centre has drawn millions of visitors to Ile-Ife and has continued to do same. Oranmiyan is a religion to many in Yorubaland as it is being worshipped while they visit the cenotaph to pay homage and reverence to the deity.
The socio-cultural festival would be totally devoid of political affiliations or leanings such that every Yoruba man would be eager to be part of the yearly event that will attract corporate organisations that might use the festival opportunity to showcase their products to achieve optimum mileage and revenue generation.
The significance of Odun Oranmiyan cannot be over-emphasised, as it is a celebration of a deity and warrior in Yorubaland.
tribune.com.ng
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