Ikorodu indigenes witness a rebirth of Asa cultural festival

Hundreds of indigenes of Ikorodu town in Lagos State on Saturday witnessed a rebirth of the Asa traditional festival, an annual ritual which had long been ignored and not celebrated.     The rebirth of the cultural festival is meant to promote tourism and culture of the people of the area. It was learnt that Asa, […]

Hundreds of indigenes of Ikorodu town in Lagos State on Saturday witnessed a rebirth of the Asa traditional festival, an annual ritual which had long been ignored and not celebrated.    

The rebirth of the cultural festival is meant to promote tourism and culture of the people of the area.

It was learnt that Asa, which is also known as Agere in other parts of Yorubaland, is a traditional festival of man walking on long stilts to entertain the public. At an elaborate ceremony attended by many traditional rulers and community leaders in Ikorodu and its environs, the revival of Asa also featured the launch of “Asa Arokolo”, a book on the festival published by the Ikorodu Division Rebirth Foundation.

Mr Sanai Agunbiade, Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, who initiated rebirth of the festival, said it would be an annual celebration in all the six divisions of the area.

“We have revived this culture in the six divisions of Ikorodu and we hope it continues. Just like the Eyo festival is celebrated on the Lagos Island, we want to be celebrating this too in our community annually,” said the Lagos lawmaker, who is an Ikorodu indigene.

Mrs Adebimpe Akinshola, the Lagos State acting Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, who represented Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who lauded the initiative, said the Asa festival was a popular cultural heritage in Ikorodu which had been long forgotten.

“As an indigene of Ikorodu, I have known Asa during my childhood days but, suddenly, it faded away,” Akinshola said.

Chief Olumayowa Johnson, who represented the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, traced the Asa culture to Ile-Ife and commended Ikorodu indigenes for reviving it.

Also speaking, the Ikorodu monarch, the Ayangburen, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, commended the Lagos lawmaker for spearheading the revival of the festival.

“We appreciate this and we are happy this is happening in our town. Henceforth, we will continue to celebrate this festival,” Oba Shotobi said.