Culture, tradition and glamour in the air 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-year rule witnessed a tremendous support for the yearly celebration, which is meant to bring home sons and daughters of the kingdom both at home and […]

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-year rule witnessed a tremendous support for the yearly celebration, which is 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 lineages 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 in 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, Jumat 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 the 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 men-