Efforts are now in top gear in the ancient city of Otta-Awori Kingdom in Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government area of Ogun State, to celebrate a unique, groundbreaking, and trailblazing Iganmode Cultural Festival 2021, otherwise known as "Odun Omo Iganmode Afeleja".
This festival is celebrated annually to project the rich culture, values and norms of the Awori people. It is a festival and cultural extravaganza that stimulates the memories as a repertoire of the glorious past, a rekindle of past heroic personage and a formidable fillip to a cultural reawakening.
Declaring the commencement for this year's preparation with a press conference recently, His Majesty, the Olota of Otta, Oba Professor Adeyemi Obalanlege (Ph.D), had said that; "every Odun Omo Iganmode Afeleja comes with great improvements on the previous ones". The birth of "Ileya Omo Iganmode" will be a novel experience at this year's Cultural Festival.
"In the spirit of "oonso laawa (We are one)", Royal Fathers of Iganmode lineage regardless of where they had migrated to ; Lagos, Oyo , Ogun or any other part of the country or in the diaspora , shall be accorded a rousing welcome to the land of Iganmode Kingdom.
The Central Planning Committee in collaboration with my Palace are working tirelessly to give these prestigious royalties a befitting and memorable day. They will start their day in Otta from their various Iga (compound) and make a royal procession to the Palace of Olota of Ota, where they will be welcome and hosted to a lavish reception", the Olota stated.
Also addressing the press, the Central Planning Committee Chairman, Aare Ayodele Bankole said, “we are still collating the Awori towns and Obaships who are of Ota iganmode extractions with direct lineage to the ancient city of Ota.
It is amazing to know that these eminent royalties have a very strong and close affinity to their root source. Awo towns and cities like Iworo in Osun State, Isolo, Shasha, Meiran, Egbeda, Agege, Imeke, Ijanikin and several more have direct umbilical ties to the ancient City of Ota–Awori”.
“Hopefully, we should be able to accommodate and lavishly host at least 10 of these royalties during the week of Odun Omo Iganmode commencing on 13th of December. Ileya Omo Iganmode will be instituted eventually starting from this year, as a significant day of spiritual quest, an odyssey of some sorts to bring together all sons and daughters of Ota wherever they may be”, Aare Bankole added.
He listed the leading towns and villages that have very strong bond which identity could be traced to "Iganmode" to include; Ijeru-Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Meran, Ijanikin , Egbeda, Isolo, Agege, Shasha, Ilogbo, Tigbo Ilu, Ikeja, Ikosi Otta, Ikotun, Egbe, Iworo, Imeke, Atan Otta, Ijoko Otta, Owode Otta, Iju Otta, Egushi Otta, Oke, Ore Otta, Ajegunle Otta, Oko Omi Otta, Obeere Otta, Mupin Otta, Oke Osa Otta, Ajibode Otta, Sango Otta, Ishaka Otta, Idedo Otta, ILoye Otta, and many other ancient towns and villages whose identities are that of Iganmode.
"All these aforementioned Awori towns and villages, just like Otta are not without their Traditional Heads coordinating the affairs of their domains for decades thereby promoting the rich culture of the Aworis and exhibiting all traits of "Iganmode" as warrior. To kick-start, the hosting would be starting with 10 high class Traditional Rulers, traceable to the Otta Kingdom, and the Royals are; Osolo of Isolo- HRM Oba Abdukabeer Agbabiaka, Onijanikin of Ijanikin- HRM Oba Alani Ashafa, Onijeru of Ijeru-Ogbomosho- HRM Oba Olaniyi Popoola and Oniworo of Iworo- HRM Oba Oladele Kosoko.
"Others are; Osolu of Irewe- Oba Abideen Adekanbi Durosimi, Elegbeda of Egbeda- Oba Hamed Orelope, Onimeran of Meran Kingdom- HRM Samuel Oroja, Olu of Agege- Oba Kamila Oyedeji Isiba, Olota Ikosi- Oba Elias Adedapo Ijelu and Olojokoro of Ojokooro- HRM Oba Taiwo Ridwan Oluwalanbe", the Chairman listed.
Meanwhile, Aare Bankole noted that the theme for this year's edition; “Culture: A Module for Sustainable Leadership”, could not have been more apt, especially as this historical cum spiritual event has helped in projecting to the world the richness of the cultural values and norms of the Otta people and by extension, all Aworis.
"On this note, "Ileya Omo Iganmode" will be coming up on Friday, December 17, 2021, the eve of the Grande Finale. Without a doubt, the event will leave everyone with a soothing, and incredible memory that will linger forever" he said.
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