THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IWUDE IJESA by Odeyemi Sunday - 07067751235

IWUDE FESTIVAL is the mother of all festivals in IJESALAND. It is so because it is the festival that brings all Ijesa people together. This month – long festival which starts in the palace of OWA OBOKUN of IJESALAND in ILESA, extends to other parts of IJESALAND such as Ipole, Ibokun and Ijebu-jesa, before ending where it starts in Ilesa. It is therefore a festival that involves not only Ilesa, but also other parts of Ijesa North and Ijesa South, as they are now called today.

IWUDE FESTIVAL is in essence therefore, a festival of unity. IWUDE FESTIVAL is a festival in which a well – deserved honour is given to KABIYESI, OWA OBOKUN. It is a festival of rich culture.

It is a festival in which cultural displays are featured. Such cultural displays include those of the royalty, manifested in the royal regalia of KABIYESI OWA OBOKUN of IJESALAND, the royal beads, the royal crowns, the royal umbrella, the royal walking stick, the royal horsetail, the royal steps, the royal smiles and the royal dance.

The cultural displays also feature the cultural dances by the people and that of KABIYESI OWA OBOKUN himself.

IWUDE FESTIVAL is also a festival where Ijesa Obokun Monarch pays a visit to Ijesa Obokun people; his chiefs and subjects from all the nooks and crannies of Ijesaland and those residing outside Ijesaland are expected to troop out en mass to hail the king.

As we celebrate this year's festival, I congratulate and wish our father, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran CFR LLD more fruitful years on the throne.
OBOKUN A GBE A O!!!