Kunle Adelabu
-As Builder Daini promises repackaging from next year
The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, Emugoriade I, and the Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Builder Sesan Daini, has assured residents of the ancient community that all their prayers during the just concluded 2023 Agemo/Eyibi festival, have been answered.
The festival started seven days ago and came to a close at the Igbogbo Night Market Square, Igbogbo, on Saturday, November 4, with another spectacular performance by the Agemos, with residents turning out in great number, to witness the grand finale.
At the event, the Igbogbo/Bayeku Council boss, Daini, pledged to discuss with the custodians of Agemo and Eluku, for partnership in branding and promoting the festivals from next year’s edition.
Speaking with THE IMPACT, Oba Kasali thanked custodians of the tradition and entire residents of Igbogbo, for the peaceful way and manner that the festivals were observed this year, while explaining the importance of the festivals.
“Eyibi comprises of Agemo and Eluku festivals. It is an age-long tradition which brings practitioners of these important deities together to celebrate together with different days in the seven days allotted to the celebration of Agemo and Eluku”, Oba Kasali said.
“It is basically to thank God, and appease our deities and ancestors for economic prosperity, development, peace and harmony in our community.
“During the festivals, there is always celebrations with men and women wearing good attires and the whole town agog for the celebration. The grand finale is usually an occasion to thank God for the success of the festivals, and pray for another and many more celebrations.
“I want to assure residents of Igbogbo, that all our appeasement and prayers during the celebration have been accepted”, the royal father assured.
Oba Kasali also charged residents on the need to discharge their duties to the community and government, while also calling for peaceful co – existence among families and people of the community.
“We also enjoin them to play our roles to the community and the government. It is also important to enjoin them to discharge their duty to the palace and not in any way disrespect the monarch, his chiefs and Baales”, the royal father said.
“Our youths must respect the elders and family heads should endeavor to carry their family members along in all family activities, so as to promote peace and harmony.
“I plead with everyone, especially the youths, to conduct themselves in good manner and desist from any act capable of destabilizing the community”.
Builder Sesan Daini, Igbogbo/Bayeku Council boss, also expressing happiness over the successful staging of this year’s edition of the festival, stated that all the appeasement by the chieftains have been manifesting.
“We thank God that the 2023 festivals went well, and we have been seeing the effects of prayers that our elders have embarked upon”, he said.
“This is a festival that always brings joy, happiness and cooperation. We use it to remember our ancestors and the founders of this community. All the Agemos that performed have meaning and significance.
“The Agemo and Eluku festivals also afforded us the opportunity to remember where we came from as a people”.
Speaking on ways to rebrand and promote the festivals to tourism level, Daini assured that his administration would discuss with custodians on way forward.
“This is a community festival and there are processes we in government can intervene, and we have been considering how we can play our roles in branding and promoting it. Starting from next year, we are considering how we can partner the custodians in elevating the celebration”, he said.
“I assure you that it would be better organized starting from next year”.
Also at the market square to partake in the grand finale were: High Chief Shotonwa, the Olisa of Ipakodo, High Chief Tajudeen Onasanya, the Odofin of Igbogbo, Chief Yahya Agpro, the Apena of Igbogbo, and Chief Jelili Oduntan, the Balogun of Igbogbo, among others.
