Iwude Ijesa Wears Modern Look – Falomo
Thousands of indegenes of Ijesa at home and abroad will converge in Ilesa to celebrate a two-week long modernized Iwude Ijesa Festival, High Chief, Oluomo Falomo has said.
The Chairman, planning committee of the festival, Chief Olu Falomo, flanked by traditional rulers from Ijesaland, disclosed this in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, at a press conference heralding the 2017 Iwude Ijesa Festival.
According to Falomo, Iwude is the foremost festival that brings together all Ijesa people and afford the paramount ruler of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran ll, to visit some palaces and rejoice with his people.
He stated that the festival would also afford the monarch the opportunity to remember his ancestors, pay homage to them, offer sacrifices and prayers to God for the good of his people.
Falomo added that cultural displays would be featured with royal beads, royal crowns, royal umbrella, royal walking stick, royal horsetail, royal steps, royal smiles and the royal dance.
“This festival reminds all Ijesas of the chivalry of our fore fathers in the internecine wars of Yorubaland. This is signified by the various gun shots and brandishing of war swords.
“”It is this festival that Ijesa people in the modern era, determine to use as a rallying point to foster greater unity among Ijesa people all over the world, develop the entire land of Ijesa, celebrate our heroes and heroines and in the process, open a new chapter of cooperation and progress in Ijesaland.
“Today, Iwude is being celebrated as a modern version of the old Iwude. Iwude is now a convergence of the ancient and modern. It is a convergence of culture and tradition, pomp and ceremony, excellence and beauty.
The committee stated that the event will begin on Wednesday, 13th December and end with a grand finale on December 23rd, 2017.
