ANALYSIS: Is Ojude Oba Losing Its Shine? (Entertainment)
Akile Ijebu annual Ojude Oba cultural fiesta held amidst pomp and glamour as usual but on a markedly subdued note, May 29.
Farouq Oreagba, "Mr. Steeze", widely regarded recently as the face of Ojude Oba cultural festival, making his grand entrance into the arena on horseback (Video courtesy, Tik Tok)
Ijebu ethnic group is noted for the uber glamorous cultural fiesta every year on every third day after the Islamic Eid el Kabir festivities. Ojude Oba which translates to "The King's Forecourt ' is an annual cultural observance where the sons and daughters of the ancestral city put on their best finery to pay jomahe to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Dr. Kayode Sikiru Adetona.
A regbe regbe age grade group at 2026 Ojude Oba (Image court, Google)
It was days after last year's edition that news filtered in that the king had joined his ancestors, throwing Ijebuland, Yoruba kingdom and Nigeria into shock and deep.mourning. though his health was hearing poor but the love and admiration with which he was widely regarded made lots of people wish for longer years on the throne for him.
The long-reigned king ruled the Ijebu kingdom for 65 years. He ascended the throne in1960 after the family lured him home from his medical practice in the UK to be enthroned.
Even before the king before him passed, the then Prince had stoutly declared to his royal family that he absolutely had no interest in becoming.king if the then king passed, and strenuously begged them to select someone else when suxh a time happens. It informed why he went to UK to study medicine and stayed back in UK to practise the profession, just so he could evade the wily kingmakers when the time comes.
But, the family felt he was the best candidate for the kingship when that time arrives. It was not the era of social media, radio was the only commonly used medium and television had not even reached many Western nations at the time. There was no way he could have known the ex king who then became his predecessor was late.
So, legend has it that the family tricked him home on the pretext that his mother was gravely sick and wanted him to come home and see her. The late Adetona was especially close to his mother so, he promptly left UK hurriedly to go tend to his invalid mother.
It was upon his arrival that the soon furious Prince was literally coerced into the kingship. He was just 29 years old. He tried to shift it upon other eligible princes from the same ruling home. But even those ones told him it's him they wanted on the throne. He gave work excuses and professional commitments, the family said the kingship of the ancestral town supersedes all other considerations. Besides, they told him it was him that the Ifa traditional deity chose to be king. That Ifa prophesies that it's under his rule that Akile Ijebu will experience massive growth and expansion round the world.
And, indeed, so it is. The town witnessed many renewal and dynamism under his reign. It was Oba Adetona who introduced the Ojude Oba cultural fiesta to Ijebu land as a way for Ijebu indigenous people, especially those in diaspora, to return to their roots and celebrate the cultural essence of Ijebu by paying homage to him in his palace on every third day after Sallah festival.
From the Forecourt of the King's palace, the festival quickly grew in size, proportion, significance and crowd. Soon, the Forecourt could not contain the often milling crowd so, the mini arcade was built and it was moved there.
So, the festival is intertwined irrevocably with Oba Adetona and his legacy. By drawing Ijebu sons and daughters home from wherever they they are in the world, the visits helped in establishing industries and businesses which markedly turn the former sleepy town into a bustling town.
The much loved and greatly respected king is still greatly missed in Akile Ijebu. Today's festival is a testament to thus.
It was held but it was subdued. After the parade, the chiefs in council banned social gatherings parties or musical shows which are the notable characteristics of the festival. After the pro session at the arcade before the king, the whole town sea ends into partying and feasting all night as various colorful parties take central stage. All the popular musicians use to.ne hired to sing at many top parties held by dignitaries of the area. This was cancelled this year, ostensibly to honour the late Awujale still.
The crowd was therefore, remarkably smaller than last year's. It's as if many feels disconnected with the festival, first after its founder passed and secondly, when it was decreed that no festivities should happen.
This is not helped by the fact that electing a successor to the throne after the King's 2025 demise has become thorny and embroiled in controversy. The Fusengbuwa royal home is the next royal home in line to produce the next Awujale.
Mega Mode Media:s investigations reveal that the royal home had selected Bimbo Onabanjo, son of Olabisi Onananji, the former Ogun governor as the new Awujale-elect. Even his co contenders reportedly accepted this verdict.
But, they did not reckon with the meddling of the Ogun state's government under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun who is also, reportedly following orders from the presidency. The kingmakers were called for repeated meetings with the governor where unconfirmed rumours said they were given financial inducements to bend the process. Mega Mode Media cannot confirm the authenticity or otherwise of this rumour.
But, these efforts have not yielded the desired outcome but only created a deadlock. It's under that cloud that this years Ojude Oba festival held. An Ijebu indigene told this newspaper that many regbe regbe age groups societies, which normally dance in to make obeisance to the king annually, stayed away because of their uncertainty over who they will pay homage to during the program. The homage is what the Ojude Oba is all about, it is what makes it colourful as the various regbe regbe, accompanied by equestrian showmanship and horse jumping, exotic cars and other props, make joyful processions to the podium in full regalia to pay homage to the king to praise and pray for him.
Though Olorogun Sunny Kuku is the current regent, it is yet unclear if he presided at the regbe regbe parade today. Or the age groups simply danced by.
How colourful it would have been if a new Awujale was there presiding over Ojude Oba today? It would have been electrically charged and fully crowded. Many dignitaries including Wasiu ATUNSE Marshal, the Olo'ri Omooba of Akile Ijebu, was missing. Crowd favourite widely crowned as Mr. Steeze, Farouq Oreagba, was there with his trademark charm, panache, electrifying presence and glamourous horseman display. The crowd cheered and clapped as his name was announced and he led his family into the arena. He in turn, bowed deeply though seated on a horse and waved round in acknowledgement of the show of love and popularity. His arrival was the spark that prevented the festival from being mundane today.
Mega Mode Media hopes the kingmakers would put their differences aside and get their acts together before the next Ojude Oba cultural fiesta next year. Lest, the festival gradually fades into irrelevance and with it, relegate the developmental strides and historical legacies of the iconic Oba Kayode Sikiru Adetona, of blessed memory.
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