All is set for this year’s Olojo festival, an age-long event that exceptionally stands the ancient city of Ile-Ife, out from other cities and community in Yorubaland.
The Olojo festival is another special event that proves the rich culture of Ile-Ife as the pilot point that later expanded to other Yoruba settlements.
On this day, the Ooni (king of Ife) appears after several days of seclusion and denial communing with the ancestors and praying for his people. This is to make him pure and ensure the efficacy of his prayers. Before the Ooni emerge, women from his maternal and paternal families sweep the Palace, symbolically ridding the Palace of evil.
The Ooni later appears in public with the Aare 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.
About The Aare Crown
The Aare crown is believed to be the original crown used by Oduduwa during his reign in the classical era of Yoruba history. History also holds that the king can only wear the Aare crown once in a year and it is usually during the Olojo festival. This is when the Ooni will lead a procession of traditional chiefs and priests to perform necessary rites at the point of Ogun deity. The Ooni will also lead the chiefs with the bAre crown to the Okemogun shrine where he would perform other traditional rites and duties which include the renewal of oath, divination for the Ooni at the foot of Oketage hill (as would be anchored by Araba (Chief priest)
At the shrine, the traditional Chiefs with the swords of office marked with chalk and cam wood, 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 has remained popular in Ile-Ife because of its myth and history. It connotes the day in the year specially blessed by Olodumare (the creator of the Universe). Olojo can also be literally translated as the “Owner for the day”. Prayers are offered for peace and tranquillity in Yoruba and Nigeria. All age groups participate. Its significance is the unification of the Yorubas.
Tradition holds that Ile-Ife is the cradle of the Yorubas, the city of survivors, spiritual seat of the Yorubas, and land of the ancients.
Chronology of Olojo Festival
On the commencement of Olojo festival, there are usually chants of prayer Gbajure! Gbajure!! Gbajure!!! Ebo re a fin, etutu re a da!, after which the women enter into Ile Oduduwa to herald the arrival of Olojo festival, which can be described as the grand festival of all deities in the ancient city of Ile-Ife.
Gbajure enchantment will be followed by Ikale, a week-long of non-drumming of any kind of traditional drums, because, Ooni, Arole Oduduwa, has gone incommunicado with the four hundred and one deities, who resided in the ancient city of Ile-Ife.
The Olojo festival, according to Ife myth, started with the third Ooni of Ife, Ogun and it is done in honouring Olodumare, the “owner of the day” it is to thank the’ supreme being’ for his abundance over the entire Yoruba nation and also seek his blessing ,peace, fruitfulness and longevity of the people.
According history, no one determines the date when the festival should hold in the month of October, but Ooni himself will hear the sound of unseen drums wherever he may be and that it is time for him to enter into seclusion, so as to communicate with the deities in fasting and prayers without receiving any visitor or attending to the immediate family members as well.
During his seclusion as the representative of the living and link between the gods and the people, he supplicates, atones, and presents the needs of the people to the gods. This act made him the priest to his people, as well as the mouthpiece of Olodumare to his people. The seclusion of Ooni can be likened to that being observed by Benin monarch in celebration of Ague festival, this only reflects the link between Benin and Ile-Ife, as Oranmiyan was the son of Ogun and also Oba of Benin
The Thursday presiding the first Oke-Mogun, is Ilagun day and it is always a vigil affair with the chief host, Osogun, the priest in charge of Ogun, the god of Iron, whom other deities in Yoruba mythology believe paved way for other deities to have their ways to the earth, with other traditional chiefs offering sacrifices at Oke-Mogun shrine.
Friday, which is the first Oke-Mogun day, as early as morning, people throng into Ooni’s palace with Arole Oduduwa, sitting on the throne of his ancestors dishing out prayers to whosoever that visits the palace. It is often time of merriment and celebration for the opportunity of being alive that the Supreme Being bestowed on individuals to be alive, and celebrate the commencement of another calendar year, especially for the people of the ancient city of Ile-Ife. It is time of renewal as kiths and kins renew their love for each other.
It is also time of sharing as families exchange gifts. Among others, it is time to visit relations and make resolutions on issues bordering on individuals and the family at large. It is also a time to settle quarrels, so that families could forge ahead. Before the advent of Christianity, even till early 70’s, no true son or daughter of Ile-Ife would not come home for the festival, because of the opportunity it avail individualsto re-unite with his kins in order to deliberate on the progress of individuals and the community at large.
It is time when young ladies were betrothed to their spouses, to many it is time to report the oppressor to the deities. It also serves as time to plead with gods in supplication for those that seek for the fruit of the womb, good jobs and fortunes, because most of the sacred grooves were opened for whoever that needs their intervention, as the priests of those deities were often at hand ready for the people.
In the afternoon,towards the going down of the sun, Ooni will enter into Ileegbo and come out with AdeAare, the beaded crown believe to be won by Oduduwa, after which the princes from all the ruling houses known as Sooko will pay obeisance to Ooni. So, also the traditional chiefs in order of their seniority will as well pay obeisance to Ooni.
At Ilenla, the Lokoloko’s who are the palace aides, but cladded in half camwood and white –chalk with canes in their hands pave way for the movement of Ooni to Oke-Mogun, followed by gun shots. Immediately, Aare crown is being sighted, prayers are often said by the people for whatever they desire, while Ooni would lead the procession of traditional chiefs and the people to Oke-Mogun, passing through specific routes.
At the shrine, the Ooni would perform a ritual dance with Osogunand at the end; they would both perform a ritual of sword-crossing, apparently an oath of comradeship. Thereafter, the Osogun performs with chalk and camwood the traditional marking of all chiefs present, as this would mark the renewal of the chiefs’ allegiance to constituted authority represented by Ooni himself. Next, the Ooni and Osogun descended to another shrine called Ogun Ereja shrine for another round of rituals. From there, Ooni would lead the procession to Oja-Ife, where he would perform another ritual at Aje shrine and prayers are offered for the economic and prosperity of the people, before returning to the palace.
On the second day of the festival, the Ooni is kept busy with various entertainments by the Emese, king courtiers in the minor courtyards located within the expansive palace.
The next day, which happens to be the third day of the celebration and the second Oke-Mogun day, the repetition of the event of the first day would hold but Ooni do not wear Aare crown, in addition, Ooni visit Oke-Itase to pay homage to Orunmila and his family quarter which signify the end of the festival.
The primary essence of Olojo festival cannot be over-emphasised, as it is the festival that unites the people together. It is also a celebration of the deities and celebration of the God of the Universe, the owner of the day, for the preservation of the Yoruba race with an abundance of blessing, the creator has bequeathed on them.
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