Image caption: His Royal Majesty Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran Lagbami Osekun lll, the Onpetu of Ijeru Kingdom
Forgotten traditional cuisines, cultural displays to highlight 2024 Odun Oba Onpetu
Femi OGUNLANA
The 2024 installment of the Odun Oba Onpetu, a yearly celebration, is scheduled to take place from February 14th through the 16th.
According to the programme of events released through the Facebook page of Mr Adelani Olawuyi on behalf of the Onpetu palace, the festival highlights that this year’s edition will showcase customary and cultural activities in addition to its typical Christian religious components.
The event will kickoff with “all night vigil’ on Wednesday, the 14th, at the palace in Ijeru.
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On the second day, Thursday, the 15th, tagged “Culture Day,” participants will be treated to an authentic cultural immersion as seasoned traditional drummers, skilled bards, expert cultural dancers, and local acrobatic professionals will be present to entertain the audience.
Furthermore, an array of indigenous dishes including eko (solid pap) and various types of bean cakes such as atuunu, seekesinin, akara elepo, fule et cetera will be served piping hot.
Day three, Friday, the 16th, dubbed “grand finale,” at the Altar of Praise, Orile (Ikefun), will feature prayers for “peace, progress and development of Onpetu Throne, Oluoje people both at home and diaspora, Oyo state and Nigeria at large.”
Also, “traditional IWURE with ADE ARE by Onpetu will follow while events will be rounded off with the paying of homage to the monarch by members of the four Ruling Houses, namely Lagbami Osekun, Oluyale, Asamu Atoyebi and Atobatele.”
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Ade Are is a special, rare crown of the Onpetus brought from Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba people, by their progenitor, Olurefe Obandi, and is worn by the reigning Onpetu on special events.
The occasion is often graced by dignitaries aside the hundreds of Onpetu royals who will appear in aso ebi.
This year’s is the 184th edition and the festival was formerly known as Odoje Festival. It was changed to Odun Oba Onpetu by the reigning Onpetu Oba Sunday Oyediran.
‘Ki oba o pe!’
‘Vive le roi’