31st Igbogbo Day Begins Friday -

Wale Jagun

His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo (middle), Dr Omotunde Ogunlaja, Chairman of the Igbogbo Development Association (IDEA) (5th right), Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, former acting Commissioner/Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts & culture (4th right), Mr Gbenga Faniyi, Chairman, 2019 Igbogbo day Planning Committee (5th left), Mr Ahmed Aroyewun, member of the planning committee (4th left), Dr Andu, Lion Tunde Okusanya, Chairman, Media & Publicity Committee of the 2019 Igbogbo Day and others in a group photograph after Tuesday meeting held at Adeboruwa palace in Igbogbo.

The much publicised 31st edition of the Igbogbo Day celebration will officially commence in the early hours of tomorrow, Friday, November 22, 2019, with ‘lwure’ (prayers) at the Adeboruwa palace in Igbogbo.

According to the programme of activities released to THE IMPACT by the Chairman, Media & Publicity Committee of the celebration, a press conference is also scheduled for 11am same day at the Adeboruwa pavilion located within the Adeboruwa palace.

Also on Friday, there will be a special Jumat service prayer at the Igbogbo Central Mosque by 1.00pm, while Civil Service Day would also hold by 4pm at the Adeboruwa pavilion.

Speaking with Mr Gbenga Faniyi, Chairman of the 2019 Igbogbo Day Planning Committee, he stated that the week-long celebration is going to be a celebration of Igbogbo’s tradition and culture as well as its social and economic developments.

He stated that the people of the ancient town are set to host visitors during the programmes of the annual celebration to showcase the cultural and traditional values of Igbogbo community to the outside world.

Faniyi also confirmed that a meeting was held between his committee and His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of igbogbo and his Chiefs on Tuesday, November 19, 2019, during which issues concerning the celebration were raised and resolved.

“We were called upon to respond to an unfounded allegation that we are not carrying Igbogbo Development Association (IDEA) along in preparation for the Igbogbo Day, but I informed the palace that the planning committee has been carrying not only IDEA along, but also other stakeholders in Igbogbo along in the planning.

“I also told the palace that it was a bias report from the people who just wanted to be seen.

“The IDEA president responded in same manner and said we will do postmortem of the whole thing to learn from our mistakes (if any)” , Mr Faniyi added.

The Planning Committee Chairman also informed THE IMPACT that Oba Kasali and the Odofin of Igbogbo, High Chief Tajudeen Onasanya, while speaking at the meeting, enjoined IDEA to be get more involved in the activities of the Igbogbo Day.

The schedules of 2019 Igbogbo Day, as released by the Chairman, Media & Publicity Committee, is as follows:

1. Friday, November 22, 2019.

Iwure (Prayers)at the Adeboruwa Palace by 6am.

Press Conference at Oba J.O Fatola’s Pavilion by 11am.

Jumat Service by 1pm.

Civil Service Day at Oba J.O Fatola’s Pavilion by 4pm.

2. Saturday, November 23, 2019:

Igbogbo Day International Carnival at Adeboruwa Palace, Igbogbo, by 7am.

3. Sunday, November 24, 2019:

Artistes’ Day at Adeboruwa Palace, Igbogbo, by 2pm.

Ram Competition at Igbogbo Sports Stadium by 2pm.

4. Monday, November 25, 2019: