… Ojaja Varsity VC lauds troupe’s performance
In a keenly contested competition and for exhibiting artistic skills and innovations, the Onimesi Cultural Troupe of Imesi-Ekiti, has recorded another remarkable achievement at the 2026 annual Olojo International Festival, as it emerged a runner -up among 22 competing cultural troupes at the grand finale of the highly venerated traditional festival.
In the same fashion, the troupe, formed by Onimesi of Imesi Ekiti, Oba Olatunji Olatunde and members of his council, won a cash prize of N1.5 million to appreciate its incredible choreographic performance at the annual cultural fiesta held in Ile -Ife, the cradle .
The age-long cultural festival is being celebrated annually by His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who had elevated the face of the festival owing to his love for cultural growth in Yoruba land.
The competition was assessed by a distinguished panel, comprising personalities from the performing arts, academia and the traditional institution, including a senior lecturer in Performing Arts at Kwara State Polytechnic, the Vice-Chancellor of Ojaja University and a revered traditional monarch who chaired the panel.
Onimesi Cultural Troupe narrowly missed the first position, with costume presentation being the notable area in which the eventual winner had an advantage. This provides a clear direction for further improvement of the troupe’s costumes and overall visual presentation.
In a particularly memorable assessment, the Vice-Chancellor of Ojaja University, Prof Jeleel Ojuade, described the Onimesi Cultural Troupe’s performance as “an academic introduction into traditional drum ensemble,” underscoring the quality, coordination and artistic depth of its presentation.
The first-position troupe received ₦2 million and 20 bags of rice, while Onimesi Cultural Troupe, as second-place winner, received ₦1.5 million and 15 bags of rice. The third-place winner received ₦1 million and 10 bags of rice, with the winners also benefiting from numerous additional donations.
Another remarkable feature of this year’s festival was the generous encouragement of individual talents. A winner in the more complex singing category received an SUV and ₦1 million cash, while a little girl in the leading participant in the first-place cultural troupe was awarded a full scholarship to a tertiary institution.
The colourful event attracted a mammoth audience of guests and cultural enthusiasts from within and outside Nigeria.
His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi and his Oloris, commended the participating troupes, their managers and praised Oba Festus Olatunji Olatunde, Olaibiyemi II, Onimesi of Imesi-Ekiti, for his consistent commitment to sustaining and developing the Onimesi Cultural Troupe.
Elated by the troupe’s scintillating outing, Oba Olatunde, applauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for releasing a bus to convey the contingents to the fiesta, underscoring his passion for the growth of arts, culture and tourism.
The Owa-Ale of Ikare -Akoko, Oba Adeleke Adegbite Adedoyin, Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole and other distinguished traditional rulers present at the all night event ,also congratulated the Onimesi and the troupe on the impressive outing.
The Palace congratulated the performers, drummers, handlers and supporters of the Onimesi Cultural Troupe for representing Imesi-Ekiti with excellence.
The second-place finish represents another significant milestone in the continuing effort to project Imesi-Ekiti and its rich cultural heritage to the world.
