Culture, tradition and glamour at 10th Owu Day
Owu Day celebration came into being during the administration of the former President, Chief Oluesgun Obasanjo. It was a novel idea that was accepted by all and sundry. His eight years rule witnessed a tremendous support for the yearly celebration, which was meant to bring home sons and daughters of the kingdom both at home […]
Owu Day celebration came into being during the administration of the former President, Chief Oluesgun Obasanjo. It was a novel idea that was accepted by all and sundry. His eight years rule witnessed a tremendous support for the yearly celebration, which was meant to bring home sons and daughters of the kingdom both at home and the Diaspora. In the history of the Owu kingdom, the event has been able to bring forth different lineage and sections of the Owus, which spread to Oyo and Osun states.
The 10th- year celebration was therefore seen as a unique occasion for the Owu and this was evident right from the pre-celebration briefing to the grand finale day on Saturday, at the annual celebration ground at the Gateway Secondary school, Ita Iyalode, along Quarry road.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Chief Ekundayo Opaleye had previously briefed newsmen on the celebration. According to him, the celebration, “is of course the biggest gathering of all Owu sons and daughters and it represents that unique opportunity to celebrate all that we hold dear as a people especially legacies left for us by our founding fathers.”
Such legacies he stated include, “honour, valour, bravery, respect for the Owu stool, propagation of our cultural values and so on. We salute our present leaders championed by Kabiyesi Olowu Dosunmu, Balogun Obasanjo and others.”
The planning committee chairman emphasized that the theme for this year’s celebration; “Onwards to a new decade of peace and progress” would be real and be seen in social life, cultural, commercial activities and development of Owu kingdom, adding that, “progress could all be achieved in an atmosphere of peace.
“We do not want the peace of a graveyard, but rather, we crave for a glamorous and lasting peace that brings about true development. The task of peaceful co-existence and progress requires that all hands must be on deck to achieve our laudable goals,” Opaleye opined.
He listed the programme of activities, which would start on Monday, October 5, to include opening ceremony and art exhibition, Ayo finals and Table tennis, Homages, chieftaincy conferment of new chiefs and royal blessing, Juma’at service, film show, traditional woro dance and the grand finale.
A major part of the programme was the planned deworming exercise for children in the area and checking of blood pressure on Saturday, October 10. A thanksgiving service, he added would come up at African Church cathedral, Totoro, Abeokuta, “while after the programme all families will go home to eat yam in the usual traditional way,” Opaleye hinted.
Though the high and might of the society which perhaps due to sycophancy had been following the former President to the annual celebration were visibly absent, but, it did not take away the shine and glamour off the grand finale as hinted by Opaleye. As early as 7.00am various parts of the Owu sections in the land had started to arrive the venue with their sons and daughters. Some adorned themselves in special attire (aso ebi), while the special dress (Ankara textile) for the 10th year was conspicuously seen on those who could get it from the organizers. Banners of various inscriptions congratulating the Owu of Owu kingdom, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu and his council of chiefs were erected at strategic spots.
Traditional dancers, including the hunters’ group, masquerade (egungun) sect and cultural troupes were not also left out with their acrobatic displays.
The presence of the telecommunication giants MTN and the leading drug maker, Glaxo-smithkline added impetus to the occasion. Particular mention should be made about the drug company, which carried out a deworming exercise for about 900 children from far and near in the area.
The Managing Director of the Glaxo Smithkline, Mr Lekan Asunni, who was represented by Bimpe Oladoyin, said that the company would have to revisit the area “with about 800-900 children so far given deforming drugs after checkup, it clearly shows that something is wrong here. It may be that the public enlightenment was not enough, but with the level of attendance recorded by our team, we have to perhaps taken another look at the programme and may comeback soon for the deforming programme.”
Earlier, she had convened the message of the Managing Director where she described the celebration as,”unique idea, as the targeted children were able to come enmass and as such the exercise objective was achieved. We are most impressed by the turnout of these children who are our future. It shows that if they had not been quickly attended to, you can imagine what the situation will be.
At exactly 12.00 pm, upon the arrival of the Paramount ruler of Ondo and Osamawe of Ondo land, Oba Ademefun and his entourage, the formal ceremony kicked-off with the entering into the arena and customized pavilion by the Olowu of Owu and his Olori (wife) amidst traditional gun shots into the air. The monarch, looking radiant and splendid in his silver animal-skin- like overall with red aso oke dress and white shoes to match, danced round the gathering to formally welcome all to the celebration. The atmosphere was electrified by the songs from the cultural troupe eulogizing the supremacy and acceptability of Olowu as their monarch. He went straight to his seat.
The entry of the Balogun of Owu, Chief Obasanjo again threw the atmosphere into frenzy, as his kinsmen and women sang his praises. He joined the Balogun Apomu, Chief S.O. Oshunbiyi and Opaleye who is also the Balogun Erunmu. They were also followed by the Iyalode Owu, Chief (Mrs) Adesida and others that make up the Owu cabinet members.
The Chief Imam of Owu, Alhaji Sodeinde gave the opening prayers, while Oshunbiyi introduced the Ondo paramount ruler, who was the special guest of honour and chairman of the occasion. Obitun dance followed and the Osamawe gave his remarks. He commended the people of Owu for upholding the culture and tradition of the ancient Yoruba land, even as he observed that the Obitun traditional dance was only synonymous with the Ondo people alone. “I will go back home to tell my people that the Obitun dance was not for them alone.”
Obe Ademefun urged that people should see the celebration, not as only merry-making, “but to reflect on how we can contribute to the growth of our community. This is the essence of celebrating our town days, and I want to believe that both sons and daughters of Owu land at home and the Diaspora will use this to contribute to the socio-economic growth of this great kingdom,” the Osamawe urged, as he formally declared the ceremony opened.
The stage was set for the Owu Obas’ parade, and with their sons and daughters they matched and danced to the pavilion to pay traditional homage to Oba Dosunmu, who intermittently had to shake his irukere oba (hand staff) to acknowledge the visiting entourage. Several gift items followed this procession. Among which included bags of cement, storage water tanker, large fish, bush meat, and other farm produce. Thereafter, the traditional cutting of the new yam was done by Oba Dosunmu. He confirmed that the new yam was sweet, “and as such I want to direct you all to start eating the new yam and it will be well with us.
“We shall come back next year to give thanks for seeing another year. We shall continue to witness peace, progress and development in Owuland. As from next year, the name of the celebration will change to Omo Owu Day celebration and we shall all converge to mark the day as we have done today,” Oba Dosunmu told his subjects. He beckoned to his Baloguns to come and join him in eating from the new yam. Subsequently, a large chunk of the roasted yam was cut into small pieces for others to eat.
While giving vote of thanks, Opaleye noted that the celebration had further brought to fore the importance of tradition and culture, as he thanked immensely the support and co-operation of all towards the successful celebration. One of the traditional rulers, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, the Towulade of Akinale, Owu Kingdom described the celebration as unique. The traditional ruler who led his subjects from Akinale to pay traditional homage to Oba Dosunmu amid pomp and ceremony thanked Oba Dosunmu for the support and honour given to, “our great grand parents with the great heritage of our land Owu crown.”
The monarch’s statement, which was contained in the congratulatory message, was coming against the background of the elevation of his status to Obaship, which is pitching the tent of the state government against Owu traditional council. As the 10th Owu Day wounded up, one fact was evident. And this was that this year’s celebration was devoid of political sycophants. It was a true celebration made by the Owus and for the Owus’ friends and associates.