By Bayo Aka.
It is natural for an individual, community or a nation to have a memorable day to commemorate any historical event of interest. It is against this background the sons and daughters of Ogidi of Yoruba extraction in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State converged on the Community Hall Ground, Agegbe to celebrate the historic New Yam and cultural heritage tagged ‘Ogidi Day’ on Saturday, June 15, 2019.
Indeed, it would interest one to know that Ogidi Day, which was first celebrated in June 2007, has improved over the years, so much as recording astronomical successes and now renowned as the Nigeria’s biggest event in June , attracting tourists from all walks of lives, including foreigners from the Kingdom of Netherlands. It has been listed on Nigeria tourism map.
Interestingly too, this annual festival has attracted infrastructural developments and foreign tourists to the community. These achievements have been attributed to the determination and unity of purpose inherent in the organizers as well as the indigenes of Ogidi land. In what seems to be a sign of divine approval, the celebration went on smoothly despite the threats of rain which did not fall at all. The conducive weather made the celebrants to feel the frills and thrills of this epoch making occasion.
Indeed, the atmosphere of the venue was charged with the rhythms and malodorous musical sounds emanating from the beating of ‘ agidigbo’ drums as the traditional chiefs in their different traditional attires were coming into the Hall in procession, and social clubs, cultural troops, hunters paying obeisance and loyalty to the Ologidi of Ogidi, HRH Oba Rabiu Oladimeji Sule who was conducted round, welcoming his guests and being accompanied by traditional dancers.
While this was ongoing, different cultural troops entertained the audience. The Owo cultural dance stood out among the troops that participated in the event. They stole the show with about three sub- groups of dancers who in measured matching steps, moved to the beatings of drums and gongs to the extent that all lenses and eyes were temporarily glued on them.
Before the D-Day of the festival, a new Sisi Asa, Queen of Culture, has emerged after a series of serious competitions and was publicly crowned. She will be Ogidi Cultural Ambassador for year 2019.
In a speech, the National President of Ogidi Development Union (ODU), Mr Kayode Eniolorunda, appreciated God for sustaining the festival over the years, noting that despite challenges that confronted the organizers of the event, they surmounted them, pointing out that Ogidi Day has become an institution to reckon with and a symbol of unity for the people.
While appreciating his predecessor, Tunde Ipinmisho over his efforts on the sustenance of the event and the successes recorded yearly, he urged all and sundry to continue to support the event.
Eniolorunda reiterated that the Ogidi Day celebration and all it stands for would not be compromised or sacrificed on the altar of clannish or religious interest.
Subsequently, the New Yam festival, which was the kernel of the gathering, was presented publicly to the Ologidi of Ogidi, Oba Rabiu Sule by the Yeye Oba of Ogidi land, Chief (Dr) Nike Okundaye. The presentation thus permitted all the indigenes to eat the new Yam. The reasons for the yearly celebration of this event is to appreciate God for bountiful harvest and thank Him for making slices of yam in form of seedlings become whole tubers of Yam.
Also speaking, the immediate past National President of ODU, Tunde Ipinmisho, told the gathering that only God should be praised for the successes recorded so far on the annual event.He recounted the infrastructural developments sited in the community being parts of aftermaths of Ogidi Day celebration, adding that previous years’ celebrations have been described as great and greater but the 2019 one was the greatest as it played host to three first class Kogi State Kings who are the Obaro of Kabba, HRM Oba Solomon Owoniyi, the Ohimege Koto, HRM Dr Abdulrasaq Isah Koto and the Olujumu of Ijumu, HRM Oba Williams Olusegun Ayeni.
In a goodwill message on behalf of the first class traditional rulers who graced the occasion, HRM, the Ohimege of Koton-karfe, Alh Abdulrasaq Isah-Koto noted that the celebration of Ogidi Day and cultural display are in line with international standard and urged other communities to emulate them. The revered monarch also averred that Ogidi community has all it takes to be a tourist centre.
In his own speech the royal father of the Day, The Ologidi of Ogidi, HRH, Oba Rabiu Sule whose status has just been elevated to that of second class chieftaincy holder, expressed his gratitude to the State governor, Governor Yahaya Bello for granting the community request in upgrading his stool.
The royal father noted that the festival was not a ritual as some people erroneously believe but an opportunity to appreciate God’s mercy in making seedlings turn whole Yam in a year.
Also the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Her Excellency, Marion Kapeyno who spoke during the festival acknowledged the warm welcome accorded her. She described the historic occasion as of the special scenes in the rich cultural displays and commended the people for preserving the culture.
The Ambassador encouraged the people to utilize the abundant sunlight to generate energy. The occasion featured other interesting activities like awards and new chieftaincy titles conferred on deserving dignitaries in addition to other cultural displays such like sango dancers, bridal dance of royalty, masquerade dancers, Nike group performers, ‘agbo olode’ performer.
Interestingly, it is heartwarming to put on record that one of the tourists who graced this occasion on the invitation of his friend, Mr. Folabi Ayodele Emmanuel, who is the son of the soil, has convinced this foreign investor friend to invest in wood processing industry in the community.
Mr. Emmanuel who was one of the beneficiaries of the awards said he had brought a firm friend to invest in wood processing in Ogidi land. According to him, he convinced the investor to try the rural setting like Ogidi for investment which he agreed to, noting that the impacts of the investment were already being felt in the community.
He disclosed further that about 120 youths from within and outside Ogidi Land are being gainfully employed in the industrial sawmill. He described the wood industry established by the foreign investor in Ogidi land as the largest in Kogi State, saying no other one can rival it so far.Excited at the spiral positive effects of the establishment of the industry in Ogidi community, Ayodele said youths are no longer involved in criminal tendencies and hooliganism, adding that the whole community was in support of the establishment of the industry.
Asked the worth of the industry in monetary terms, he responded that he could not be certain but it is a multimillion naira project. He urged the youths to be hard working so as to move Ogidi community and the country forward. He said he was on the same page with the National President of ODU who described the celebration of Ogidi Day as an institution and a symbol of unity, adding that though there are challenges emanating from clannish interests, he said they were surmounted. He added that Oogidi people are the happiest in the world.
Another award beneficiary, Prince Oluwole Balogun, described the 2019 celebration as a success and returned all glory to God. He pledged loyalty to the Ologidi, saying the award conferred on him would translate to better thing for the community. Mr. Bashorun Samuel Babalola and his wife were also conferred with the chieftaincy titles of Aro of Ogidi land and Yeye Aro of Ogidi land in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of Ogidi land.
The Ologidi’s remark while conferring the chieftaincy title on him are as follow: It is in recognition of the passion and uncommon love displayed towards sons and daughters of Ogidi and above all the outstanding contributions to the development of Ogidi land.
The revered monarch described Bashorun Babalola as an “illustrious son and ambassador of Ogidi community”, adding that the entire community was proud of him.
There is no gainsaying the fact that this festival has contributed tremendously to the socio-economic a transformation of this community. That is why there is need to continue to improve on it and make it international tourists centre.
Culled from The Graphic.
