By Ayodele Abere
The foremost Traditional Ruler in Ekiti, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, has described cultural celebration as one of the ways to put a community in the world map.
Oba Adejugbe made this assertion in his palace on Thursday while addressing journalists ahead of 2024 Udiroko Festival, slated for Wednesday, 21st August, 2024.
Speaking on the festival, the monarch explained that the age-long festival has become very significant in the cultural calendar of Ado-Ekiti as he stated that the the Udiroko festival is the New Year Day celebration of Ado kingdom where the sons and daughters of the town usually greet themselves a happy new year.
In his narration, the Royal Father noted that Udiroko is a euphemistic expression of the significance of the first meeting of Ado-Ekiti people under the Iroko tree to celebrate the founding of Ado kingdom under the paramountcy of the Ewi then, who thereafter gave a royal proclamation of the first gathering under the Iroko tree as the first day in the Ado-Ekiti calendar.
Ewi further explained that the festival can fall on any day of the week. Adding that there is a designated chief whose duty is to calculate the day. The Kabiyesi further unveiled that the day of the festival has been fixed by the forefathers which according to him is a time for the community to come together and thank God for His preservation and blessings
“It’s an opportunity for us to thank God, just as Christians thank God on Christmas Day. We offer prayers to every indigene of Ado Ekiti and its residents”. Said the monarch.
On his recent journey to Abuja, the first-class monarch said it was not a personal affair but to invite the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and other members of the National Assembly, through the son of the soil, the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.
The journey, he said was with the knowledge of the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji . ” I told the governor before I travelled that I want to use the opportunity of Udiroko celebration this year to bring senate president and other members of the National Assembly for them to see and feel the deplorable state of the roads in Ekiti.
In a separate interview, the Yeye Ugba of Ado-Ekiti, High Chief Bolanle Aderoju, expressed the readiness of the womenfolk to actively participate in the festival. She said the novel thing the women brought to bear in this year’s celebration are visits to some places like orphanage homes where they offered some humanitarian assistance.
