Kunle Adelabu
It was a cultural exhibition and display at its best when His Royal Majesty, Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, Adegorushen V, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, marked his sixth year anniversary of its crowning with a beaded crown by the traditional institution in Ikorodu Kingdom.
The crowning ceremony at the rehabilitated ancient Oloja (Ayangbure) palace located within the Ita Efunlase (Ajina square) on August 2, 2015, traditionally made the then Odofin of Ikorodu and Prince of Lasunwon Ruling House, the supreme head of traditional institution of Ikorodu Kingdom and the Ayangbure of Ikorodu.
Oba Shotobi is the Permanent Vice Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas & Chiefs, Chairman, Ijebu Obas in Lagos State, Chairman, Ikorodu Division Council of Obas & Chiefs and the Paramount ruler of Ikorodu Kingdom.
Even though the unfortunate impact of the third wave of the global COVID – 19 pandemic prevented the paramount ruler from organizing an elaboration celebration, but that did not disuade the traditionalists, under the umbrella of African Traditional Religious Practitioners of Nigeria, Ikorodu chapter, from observing the day.
To commemorate the day that the entire Ikorodu Kingdom crowned the well loved and revered Oba, hundreds of traditionalists from different traditional sects and groups took to major streets in their white regalia which signifies purity, peace and harmony, in procession and finally converged on the Ayangbure palace where prayers were offered for Oba Shotobi’s reign to witness more development, peace and harmony.
The Apena of Ikorodu Kingdom, who is also one of the Kingmakers, High Chief Kareem Ore, coordinated the prayer session at the palace.
The unique convergence for the celebration of the sixth crowning anniversary was not all about prayers, as the occasion also presented the royal family, chiefs and a few guests and selected journalists the opportunity to witness the beauty and glamour of the Ikorodu cultural values at its peak.
It was indeed a day that many will not forget in a hurry as different masquerades 'forced' the royal father and his guests to sit glued to their seat with their exciting cultural displays.
First to perform was the Igunnuko (a tall masquerade covered in colourful attire and which can descend to any level and can also stand tall) group that gave an impressive display to the admiration of Oba Shotobi and his guests. The well delivered performance by the Igunnukos made the royal father and those with him sprayed them naira notes in appreciation of their rich cultural performance.
Egungun masquerades took over from Igunnuko and put up another round of cultural and musical displays which threw the palace atmosphere into great ecstasy as the lkorodu indigenes in attendance pride in their cultural values.
Meboi group, which is a masquerade built in canoe form and which traditionally hails from Itunmoja area of Ikorodu, took the cultural performance to another level with an organized and beautiful display. Their performance was a beautiful blend of good traditional songs which the entire gathering sang along with the Meboi practitioners while the deft and swift moves of the masquerade itself, which were in harmony with the beat and songs, left the monarch, his guests and the crowd in utter awe.
Asa (man on the stilt sticks), which is a traditional display/festival sustained and popularize by the people of Aga in Ikorodu, but also being practiced by Ijomu,Isele, Agura and Mowo – Nla areas of Ikorodu, was also the centre of attraction during the sixth year coronation anniversary event.
The cultural display of the ‘men on the stilt sticks’ is also common and being practiced by other communities in Ikorodu Division like Igbogbo, Oke – Eletu and Imota among others.
Its beautiful nature and tourism values had, some years back, made the Asa festival to be placed on a path of cultural prominence by IREP – Ikorodu Division Rebirth Foundation, a group led by the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the representative of the Ikorodu Constituency, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade.
The group, which got Asa festival enlisted with the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture as part of the state cultural calendar, has also been celebrating the festival annually except for the last two years due to the outbreak of COVID – 19 pandemic.
A traditional Apepe musical group also joined the display to make the anniversary event colourful and memorable. The group rendered special songs in commemoration of the event.
A cultural group of young Ikorodu people called, ‘Turuku’ (a masquerade usually covered with palm front) also had their turn to entertain the royal father and his guests.
The most beautiful and significant aspect of the entire cultural displays and traditional activities was the involvement of young Ikorodu sons, which is a major step in sustaining these cultural values and making them in tune with modernity without losing their original form.
Also , the involvement of these youthful lkorodu indigenes ( both males and females) in all the displays by the different masquerade groups that performed, gave the performances energetic and youthful approach as the young tradition enthusiasts were also in their full regalia learning from the experienced older ones.
The royal father, who was well pleased with the show of love by the traditional institution in Ikorodu, gave thanks to God and his ancestors for successfully marking its sixth year crowning anniversary and prayed for many more years of success on the throne.
He also thanked his chiefs and the entire Ikorodu people for their support and acceptance.
Oba Shotobi also appreciated the Lagos State Government for its roles in making his reign successful.
“I thank my entire people for standing by me. We never thought that it would be elaborate like this but we cannot jettison our traditional institution and values”, Oba Shotobi said.
“I thank you for sharing your love and kindness with the royal family with this Woro rally round Ikorodu before converging here.
“I am always happy to see our traditional practitioners in full regalia with vigour and great enthusiasm for what they are doing. Thank you”, Oba Shotobi said while addressing traditionalists that converged to celebrate with him after their prayers and performances.
Other traditional groups at the ceremony are Osugbo, Awopa, Eluku, Oloku, Ogun, Babalawo, Liwe, Osa Dotun
Some of the dignitaries at the Chief Wasiu Adekunle Laibe Oyenuga, the Olootu Omoba Lasunwon, Chief Oreagba, the Olumale Eleku of Ikorodu Kingdom, Chief Olatunji Joseph Aluko, the Baale of Owutu, Prince Adegboyega Odofin , the Secretary, Lasunwon Ruling House, Otunba Olugbenga Ajenise – Kuti, Otunba Ekuewu of Ikorodu Kingdom and High Chief Kareem Ore, the Apena of Ikorodu Kingdom among many others.
