Olojo Festival revival: Ooni Ogunwusi's epochal cultural renaissance by Toyin Kolade ,Iyalaje Oodua

 Olojo Festival revival: Ooni Ogunwusi's epochal cultural renaissance 

By 

Princess Toyin Kolade 

Iyalaje Oodua 

At a time like this when globalisation and socio-cultural imperialism have forced and foisted a particular religion or faith-based fads on the majority of the people, particularly areas where colonial imperialists once upon a time planted their flags and administrative system, the cultural heritage, traditional values, pristine moral ethics, traditional etiquette and social-cultural heritage suffered neglect and relegation placing them on the edge of extinction.

Olojo, one of those ancient festivals, has survived the cultural atrophy of indoctrination and 'civilisation’ due to its being the umbilical cord of the creation of the world which mandated its celebration by the Yoruba race, in Ile-Ife.

Notwithstanding its refusal to be submerged by foreign religions and Pentecostal faiths, Olojo was under immense pressure which diminished it in stature, but not in traditional content, value and rites that  MUST be observed as laid down from the day of Ọjó̩ Ìwásẹ́.

However, Olódùmarè who is the Aṣè̩dá and the O̩ló̩jó̩ the creator of the world, the ultimate protector of his ideas and creations, always sends down a soul who will preserve, promote, enhance and project whatever deserves to be preserved from this generation for generations yet unborn.

Thus the enthronement of the current Ooni, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi in the stead of his forefathers - Oduduwa Throne in Ile-Ife was a messianic intervention in the revival of that pristine culture and values which make the Yoruba why they are who they are.

One of the most strategic cultural interventions which Kabiyesi Ooni Ojaja II embarked upon was the global branding of the Olojo Festival in 2016.

The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, on Thursday, 23 September 2016, gathered prominent Yoruba leaders in business, law, commerce, merchandising and culture to discuss the socio-cultural tourism development of the race.

The event, packaged by Infogem Ltd, in conjunction with Ife Heritage Council and tagged ‘Olojo Festival Corporate Forum', was held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Ooni Ogunwusi had the singular honour of hosting Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief and Chief (Mrs) Kunle Ojora,  Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, chairman, Julie Pharmacy; Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, General Alani Akinrinade, Otunba Subomi Balogun, Chief Idowu Sofola, Prince Bola Ajibola, Chief Adebisi Adebutu Kessington,  Chief Alex Duduyemi, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Ambassador Adekanye Adeigba, Chief GOK Ajayi, Prof Adebanji Akintoye, Prof Adeyemi Aderibigbe, Ambassador Omotayo Ogunsulire, Otunba Kenny Martins, Chief Amos Akingba, Mr Dipo Famakinwa, Gbenga Adefaye and others. For hours, they discussed the socio-cultural tourism development of the Yoruba race.

Since 2016, Olojo Festival has been liberated and disentangled from the labyrinth of misconception and mystery of being a mere traditional festival restricted only to the Ife community, and placed on a cosmopolitan platform for global understanding, proper perspective and generational acceptance.

Since 2016, the Olojo Festival has continued to wax stronger, beating the imagination of everyone who has had a pre-2016 celebration experience.

My father, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Ojaja II has ensured that this year's Olojo Festival, apart from fulfilling the traditional concepts and rites, also entails economic empowerment theme, vocational scheme and youth engagement opportunities and skill acquisition for intra-generational relevance.

With the theme ‘ODUDUWA'S UNIFIED ADIRE DOMESTIC TOURISM OF ONE RACE, ONE SOURCE, ONE FESTIVAL’, the 2021 Olojo Day Festival is an epochal cultural renaissance of remarkable relevance to the stoking of Aje in Yorubaland in particular, Nigeria general and for global networking.

May the Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi live longer than his forefathers.

May the fortune of Aje, the curator of wealth and profits be with all as we participate and partake in this year's Olojo Festival of Life in Ile-Ife.

Ajé á wọlé̩ wa o

Gbogbo wa á rájé jęun

A kú ọdún

@iyalajeoodua.

Breaking News!! Why Iyalaje Oodua is mobilizing 250 Iyalojas from South West for the 2021 Olojo Festival in Ife

 Breaking News! Why Iyalaje Oodua is mobilizing  250 Iyalojas from South West for the 2021 Olojo Festival in Ife 

In her strident  spiritual and economic efforts at

 emancipation and liberation  of Iyalojas in Oodua land from market misfortunes and unprofitable business endeavours, the Iyalaje Oodua, Princess Toyin Kolade is mobilizing 250 Iyalojas from all the four corners of Yoruba land to participate and partake in Olojo Festival 2021

taking place at Ile Ife, Osun State. qq

The celebration of Olojo by the Ooni of Ife which is traditionally and culturally mandatory to mark the day of creation of the World when Oduduwa and other deities descended on the earth will commence traditionally on Saturday 18 September to Sunday 26 September 2021. 

 This commemoration of the descent of Oduduwa to Ile Ife where all other races emanated and spread to other parts of the world entails the Ooni wearing of the symbolic Are crown of fortune,  positive vibrations and possibility from Okemogun to the palace which gives opportunity to people to offer prayers and supplications to the creator and owner of the day - Olojo

According to the investigation, Iyalaje Oodua Princess Toyin Kolade is not leaving any stone unturned at adding substantial value to the celebration of this  Olojo Festival not only because it is going to be a major historical and cultural event being held after her installation as Iyalaje Oodua but most importantly because of the significant importance of Olojo Festival to the opening of the door of fortunes and buoyancy of trade, monetary transaction, unmerited prosperity, economic windfall and blossoming of market activities in Yorubaland  

Our source revealed that Iyalaje Oodua has rolled out invitation letters and put in motion a systematic electronic platform networking the Iyalojas all over Yorubaland and in the diaspora to be partakers and witnesses of the glorious spiritual procession of the Ooni Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunsusi wearing the Are crown from Okemogun to the Enuowa Palace in Ife on Saturday 25/September 2021.

The source disclosed that Iyalaje Oodua, Princess Toyin Kolade efforts at ensuring that all Iyalojas from Yoruba land present at the festival is borne out of the significance of Olojo - the owner of the Day to  Aje the fortune brewer. 

According to historical evidence, one of the items brought along when Oduduwa and others descended into the Earth was the cowrie- Aje, the first traditional and modern legal tender in the world. 

Thus Iyalaje Oodua who's dictum is ' Olojo lo ni Aje'- the creator of the day stokes the fortune for all, believes that the Iyalojas of Yoruba land must not be relegated into the background in such a historical and trado-cultural festival which has spiritual linkage with their means of livelihood. 

Hence, Iyalaje Oodua is making all arrangements possible of ensuring the comfort and convenience of the 250 Iyalojas from Yoruba land and in the diaspora to will receive special prayer for business and commercial prosperity from Are crown-wearing Ooni of Ife on that day.

 Iyalaje Oodua congratulates Esther Ajayi for obeying

God on opening a grand church in Yoruba land 

....says  will turn Nigeria into a  pilgrimage country 

The Iyalaje Oodua, Chief Mrs Toyin Kolade has congratulated Pastor Esther Ajayi, founder, Love of Christ Generation Church for harkening to the voice of the Lord by establishing a grand  place of worship in Yoruba land, which is ' of spiritual and economic blessings to Yoruba land' 

Iyalaje Oodua described  the act as ' a sublime submission  and total obedience to God's commandment which depicted Mama Esther Ajayi as a reincarnation of one of the prophets and prophetess of old-time religion who listened and acted solely on divine instructions for the benefit of their generations and the globalisation of the gospel at their own expense ' 

Iyalaje Oodua who was engaged by journalists immediately after the grand opening of Love of Christ Generation Church in Lekki said that " obedience to a divine or spiritual order is not an easy task as it mostly behoves the hearer to abdicate his or her comfort zone for a blank promise based on faith '.

She  remarked  that ' However, each of the options has its reward both in physical and in spiritual realm  according to Deuteronomy 11:26-28 which sums it up that blessing is the reward for obeying  the voice of the Lord  while a curse is the consequence of the refusal of the divine instruction  '

Iyalaje Oodua pointed out that ' we are all witnesses and partakers of the divine reward of Mama Esther Ajayi's obedience to God's commandment to leave London and move to Lagos, Nigeria, by the avalanche of eminent and distinguished personalities, strong pillars of the spiritual fortress in the world and men and women of means who are here today. It is an awesome testimony that whoever listens  and harkens to the divine voice will earn blessing not curse " 

She pointed out that the planting of the Church by Mama Esther Ajayi in Lekki and the relocation of its headquarters to Nigeria is not only a spiritual blessing to Yoruba land but an economic stimulus to Nigeria via religious tourism.

Iyalaje Oodua said Love of Christ Generation Church being opened today would turn Nigeria into another pilgrimage centre of the world as ' Mama Esther Ajayi 's spiritual light and divine calling is of  intercontinental relevance which  will lure millions of Christians all over the world to scramble to Lekki for spiritual guidance ' 

She said that " Olodumare is one and has no rival.  although the means of getting to him, mode of worshipping him and means of communication differs according to clime and climate. But the fact remains that either East or West , North or South, white or black,  tradition re  or orthodox religion,   Olodumare who is the decider of our fate is the controller of fortune, wealth and our being and we must worship him in whatever way we are inclined or tutored in faithfulness' 

Iyalaje Oodua advocates collaborative endeavours among players in the commercial corridor of Yoruba land

 Iyalaje Oodua advocates collaborative endeavours among players in the commercial corridor of Yoruba land 

The Iyalaje Oodua, Chief Mrs Toyin Kolade has called on commerce and  market players in Yorubaland to engage in collaborative  endeavours at stabilising their trade and widening the coast of their business networks 

Iyalaje Oodua made this submission during a brief chat with newsmen in Victoria Island, Lagos where she said that commercial and business activities blossom when traders and market players understand the nitty-gritty of market demand and supply at a particular time and rising jointly to explore it for profitability.

She pointed out that globalisation and hybrid communication networks  have reduced the wings and status of monopolistic tendencies in today's commercial and business engagements  thus, creating the necessity of collaborative endeavours among merchants, traders and business fellows 

Iyalaje Oodua said what players need now is to embrace collaborative endeavours to strengthen and stabilize each other in the area of shortcomings.

Iyalaje Oodua revealed that ' even in the olden days, historical evidence has revealed that there was a chord of commercial and business collaborative endeavours between the importers from overseas-based in Lagos,  and the merchants in Ejirin,  Ijebu Ode, Abeokuta, Ondo, Okitipupa, Ekiti, Osogbo, Ilesha, Jebba, Lokoja and Ife. That was even when communication and transportation were not made easy as today' 

She said that ' though players are seeking for gains and profits at individual levels  ' but we can triple our  gain and profit if we identify the lack of others and stock up with them at that point of need"

Chief Mrs Toyin Kolade said that her role as Iyalaje Oodua is not only a socio-cultural assignment but a spiritual calling that places the economic and commercial buoyancy of practitioners and market players in Yorubaland on her shoulders.

She said ' I understand my role as Iyalaje Oodua perfectly well. I comprehend both the spiritual, the cultural, the social and the economic component of the role of Iyalaje Oodua. I understand that it is beyond partying, dancing and wearing gorgeous robes, I understand it is about creating and stoking the positive energy of profit and wealth via spiritual intervention, commercial and economic advocacy, socio-political business engagements and continental networking for commercial blissfulness of the Oodua race. I assure you that by the power of Olodumare , the spirit of Oodua and inspiration of Arole Oodua, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II , I shall not fail. "