VIDEO: Click 👆 on the image to watch
After some years of inaction, the annual Abolaye Festival made a big return as High Chief Simeon Orisagbemi Olaleye Oginni, Alaye of Ilaye on Saturday hosted the 2025 edition of the festival amid pomp and pageantry.
The Itakogun-Adeti-Ereja axis, being the most ancient part of Ilesa city was agog as High Chief Orisagbemi Oginnni supported by Chief Petelua led over 50 Ilaye descendants in a procession passing through Itakogun to Adeti to Atakumosa market and to Ile Imorisa of Okemese ancient palace of Owa Obokun Adimula for the Iwure sacrificial prayer for peaceful coexistence in the entire ljesaland and for a successful reign of the new Owa Obokun Adimula, Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III.
The 2025 edition of ABOLAYE FESTIVAL started on the 6th of February when Aaye left for Ibokun.
Abolaye festival Festival is an age-long traditional festival celebrated by Alaye, Ilaye descendants and the priests of Obatala, bringing together adherents from home and all over Yoruba land to receive Alaye's royal blessings as Ijesaland is known for its significant position in Oduduwa cum Yoruba cultural heritage.
On the importance of festival, Alaye of Ilaye, who has his quarters also situated at Ereja epicenter of Ilesa metropolis, identified preservation of culture and traditions as an important role players in ensuring that a society’s unique identity is not lost, thus encouraging generational transfer.
"This is the rich culture of "Alaye mode" descendants. It is our cultural identity that we have preserved from generation to generation and with the celebration of this festival we are projecting our place in Yoruba history and Ijesa's in particular, in order to preserve our identity." Alaye said as he reaffirmed his commitment to the promotion of cultural values and customs that properly portray the true identity of Ijesa people.
According Alaye, the significance of the festival is to pray for tranquility and peaceful coexistence in the community.
“As you can see, all the sons and daughters of Ilaye, popularly referred to as Alaye mode, here in Ijesaland, from far and near are rejoicing, it is like a homecoming where they come together to celebrate their ingenuity".
The festival was later concluded with a grand reception held at Alaye quarters where important dignitaries included, the Alaye-in-Council, High Chief Hannah Bolanle Ojo, Yeyerise of Ilesa and the Yeyesogba, hunters, the olorisas , the Alaye sons and daughters home and abroad some ijesha chiefs.
More photos Coverage script ✍️ Camera 📸 ---Credit Oladimeji Lasore
No comments:
Post a Comment