Countdown to Iwude Ijesa 2019 Celebration; Adimula of Ifewara, Elegbero of Ijebu-Ijesa Pledge Unflinching Support

With Iwude Ijesa, arguably the Ijesa people's premier festival, just eight weeks away, many top ranking Ijesa traditional rulers are already in peak preparation mode.

Preparing for the festival has been an all-round hectic and stressful experience for the Festival's Planning Committee's members who are bent to make sure that this year's edition involve the active participation of all Ijesas at home and abroad and not merely an Ilesa resident's festival.

On Monday, 21st of October, 2019, the Iwude Ijesa Planning Committee's members led by it's Vice Chairman, Chief Afolabi Igbaroola were at the palace of the Adimula of Ifewara, Oba Hezekiah Adeniyi Owolola and on Friday the 25th, they were at the palace of the Elegbero of Ijebu-Ijesa, Oba Olufemi Agunsoye.

The Adimula of Ifewara described the visit by the planning committee as unprecedented as he tasked members on promoting unity among all traditional rulers in the land, stressing that Ijesaland has a cluster of beaded crown kings.

He pledged his support to the committee to make this year's edition of the annual ijesa festival of unity a huge success, assuring them of his readiness to liaise with other traditional rulers in Atakumosa West on behalf of the committee.

Presenting the  brochures of the past editions of the festival which serving as a rallying point for ijesa sons and daughters at home and in diaspora, chief Afolabi Igbaroola  appreciated the Adimula of Iwara for the high level of partrotism displayed through his suggestions and words of advice during the visit.

At Ijebujesa, the Elegboro of Ijebujesa, oba Olufemi Agunsoye wants all traditional rulers in Ijesaland to rally round the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran to make this year’s Iwude Ijesa festival a success. He also extolled the committee members for their commitment and zealousness, the traditional ruler opined that some entertainment programs should be incorporated into the  festival of Unity to allow talents from towns and cities within the lànd showcase their gifts.

According to him, cultural troops from every locality should be given time each to display during the cultural rendezvous, while the Owa Obokun is busy touring chieftaincy houses of eminent chiefs in his domain as scheduled in line with the tradition.

He assured the committee of his unalloyed support and advised members to work towards approaching prominent sons and daughters of Ijesaland for sponsorship, stressing that leaving the organization in its entirety in the  hand of government alone will make the festival lose its focus.

Chief Igbaroola presented the brochures of the past editions of the festival of Unity to the monarchs, and he assured them that the Committee will take cognizance of their observations.

In attendance at the palace of the Elegboro of Ijebujesa were the Awaraja of Iwaraja, the olulogo of Ilogo, olori Omolara Agunsoye, Yeye Osemure.

Recall that the Iwude Ijesa Festival Planning Committee had earlier made a similar visit to the Erimo-Ijesa palace of The Elerinmo, Oba (Dr.) Michael Odunayo Ajayi, Arowotawaya II who also appealed to the members of the Iwude-Ijesa Planning Committe to use the advantages of the social media to inform Ijesa sons and daughters of the upcoming 2019 Iwude-Ijesa festival that comes up on Saturday 21st December, 2019.


Reported by Isaac Haastrup