Odún Olójó (Olojo Festival)
The Olojo Festival is an ancient festival celebrated annually in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. It is one of the popular festivals in Yorubaland and was once described by Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ọjájá II), the 51st and current Ooni of Ife, as a celebration of the Black race all over the world.
The Yoruba word “Olojo” translates to “The Day of the First Dawn”. It expresses the excitement and gratefulness of humans towards God’s creation including the existence of Human beings. Olojo can also be translated as the “Owner of the day”.
Olojo has remained popular in Ile-Ife because of its myth and history. It is believed to be the day in the year especially blessed by Olodumare (the creator of the Universe). During the festival, prayers are offered for peace and tranquillity in Yorubaland and Nigeria. The significance of the festival is the unification of the Yorubas around the world.
The first day of the festival often witnesses the arrival of the Ooni after seven days of seclusion and denial, communing with the ancestors and praying for his people. The seclusion which started on Sunday, 19th of September 2021 ended today, 25th of September 2021. This is to make him pure and ensure the effects of his prayers.
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This year, Oba Ogunwusi dedicated the seven-day seclusion to pray for a better Nigeria. The Ooni said that “when we compare what has been happening in other nations, we have every cause to glorify God, for He has been so faithful to us by delivering us from the power of Coronavirus. Our efforts to protect people from the pandemic by providing fumigators for 36 states and Abuja, the FCT cannot be over-emphasised.”
Before Ooni emerges, women from his maternal and paternal families sweep the Palace, symbolically ridding the Palace of evil.
The Ooni later appears in public with the Are crown (King’s Crown), which is believed to be the original crown used by Oduduwa to lead a procession of traditional Chiefs and Priests to perform at the Shrine of Ogun.
The next stage of the ceremony is to lead the crowd to Okemogun’s shrine. There, he performs duties including the renewal of oath, divination for the Ooni at the foot of Oketage hill by Araba (Chief Priest), as well as visiting places of historical importance.
At the shrine, the traditional Chiefs with the swords of office marked with chalk and camwood, appear in ceremonial attire and dance to rhythms from Bembe, a traditional drum. The style of drum and singing for each Chief is different. Only the Ooni can dance to the drum called Osirigi.
Olojo festival features elaborate displays of vibrant cultural performances as well as sacred & colourful rituals including the Gbajure Cultural Carnival, Adire Oodua Cultural Possession Assist, Ooni’s Football Challenge, Ayo Olopon Traditional Game, Cultural Entertainment Hunt (Audition), Oonirisa Terrestrial Message to the World, Olojo Festival Ankara Carnival, Oonirisa’s Adire Hub Fiesta, and many more.
Annually, the festival attracts 1,000,000 + visitors worldwide and supports over 5000 participants. The number of participants is increasing every year, and the festival’s reputation has attracted international media coverage. People travel from all over the world to Ile-Ife to be part of this event as performers, supporters, reporters and audience members.
The festival which started on the 25th of September will run till the 27th of September 2021. Music artists like Nice, Wale Walata, Small Doctor and Osupa will be live at the event.
This year, the sum of N990,000 cash prize will be given to 99 lucky people who partake in the #MyOlojoMoment giveaway on social media. All you have to do is; Make a “video” or “text post” about an experience, prayer, or supplication you were blessed with by Almighty God. Post it using the following #MyOlojoMoment and #OlojoFestival2021 and tag @olojofestival
The festival can be streamed live on Youtube.
For highlights of the 2021 event, visit the official website olojo.org