By Ayodele Abere
“Culture is a way of coping with the world by defining it in detail.” Malcolm Bradbury
The significant roles of cultural heritage cannot be overemphasised as it preserves the history and traditions of a community, serving as a physical reminder of the past, helps to shape the community’s identity and informs its values and practices. Just as it also promotes social cohesion by uniting individuals and fostering mutual respect.
This exactly, was the case in Isaya Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti State, on Tuesday, 15th July, 2025 as the indigenes of the ancient community gathered in their numbers to celebrate this year’s new yam/Ojude Oba festival in a different dimension.
Speaking with Pinpointnews at the event held under a very clear weather, His Royal Majesty, Oba Matthew Ajayi, Elejogun, Okunarabaribi, Apitangbade1, the Asaya of Isaya land said, it’s a celebration of the community’s cultural day tagged: “Ojude Oba” which according to him is an annual activity preceeding the new yam festival.
The monarch explained that it’s a day that the new yam is usually brought from the farm, and prepared for eating the following day, meaning that they don’t usually cook the new yam the very day it is brought home from the farm until the next day.
Highlighting the significance of the festival to the people of the community, Oba Matthew Ajayi remarked that, it’s an occasion to thank and appreciate God Almighty for giving them grace to cultivate and eat the fruits of their labour. Adding that it’s an avenue to celebrate their existence by thanking God and the deities for being alive without experiencing any calamity in the community.
Stressing further, the paramount ruler pointed out that the occasion equally brings sons and daughters of the community together as an avenue to celebrate themselves.
Digressing a bit from how it used to be celebrated in the past, the Kabiyesi explained that their forefathers couldn’t gather together for elaborate celebration as it’s now being celebrated, saying though, the youths used to dance round the community, while the elders would only converge at a particular point to offer some prayers. But this time around, the festival is now tagged: Ojude Oba, to bring modernity and attraction to the ceremony.
Oba Ajayi, who is extremely happy about how the residents of the community allow peace to reign among themselves, appreciated his chiefs and every other member of the community for the cooperation and support he is enjoying from them all.
He therefore admonished the people of the community, especially the youths to ensue peace, and that they shouldn’t keep bad companies. Above all, that they should know God and serve Him.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Emmanuel Ojo Olukayode Fagbemi, the Elekota of Kota Ekiti and his counterpart, His Royal Majesty,
Oba Matthew Durojaye Jegede, the Alahan of Ahan, Aiyegunle Ekiti, while speaking with our correspondent, described the 2025 Isaya Ekiti Ojude Oba as very fantastic, saying that the community has displayed a lot of cultural activities that are worthy of emulation.
Commending the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji for creating an enabling environment for everyone in the State, especially for making all the traditional rulers in the State happy, the Asaya of Isaya Ekiti, Elekota of Kota Ekiti and Alahan of Ahan Aiyegunle, all in Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti State used the occasion to appeal to the governor to consider siting a tertiary institution, small scale industry to the area, and that he should consider more of their children for political appointments.
In a lecture presented by Chief Odofin of Isaya land, Dr. F. A. Oladele with the topic: “Youth And Family In Building A Prosperous Community “on the occasion of the new yam festival, he emphasized that community development is not the responsibility of one person, but a shared mandate as he remarked that a thriving community depends on the unity of its people, clarity of its vision, and the strength of its institution.
The lectuter however, hinged pillars for sustainable development on education, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, security and justice.
Highlight of the occasion well attended by traditional rulers from Ekiti, Ondo and Kwara States with dignitaries from all walks of life, was a special prayer by the royal father, the Asaya of Isaya land, Oba Matthew Ajayi, for the entire sons and daughters of the community both at home and in thediaspora, with cultural displays by various groups.
