By Oluwasegun Aina
It was a meaningful togetherness in the ancient city of Ifaki-Ekiti as Oba John Adegbenro led residents and admirers and loyal of Okorobo annual festival to a boisterous celebration, held on Saturday 17th September, 2022.
Going by the way of background Okorobo festival is the preeminent cultural carnival in Ifaki; a nodal town in the center of Ekiti State of Nigeria. Ifaki is divided into 4 quarters Ilero. Iwore, Ilogbe and Egun. The town has Okorobo Iwore and Okorobo Egun. Interestingly, Okorobo Egun is quite entertaining because the carriers dance to rich native music with it when withdrawing back to the grove, while Okorobo Iwore is more popular and known to the outside world which makes it to attract a very large crowd.
Okorobo is one festival that involves no rituals or making of sacrifices unto any idol, this is perhaps one of the reasons why people of different shades and creed participate in the ceremony. It is all about singing and dancing while some physically fit men and women voluntarily flog each other on their legs with ' uro' the long stem of palm fronds. Strong young men see it as an exercise and long standing conventional way of celebrating the great feast.
This year Okorobo celebration was significant because is it done under the first reign of King Adegbenro prior to last year of his inception on the throne. Olufaki graced the Convergence of people who cooked pounded in Iwore and Ilero days before the Okorobo. Moreover, his presence saw delight at the final of football competition organized by IYEFUND. He led his people to 3kilometers walk after convergence of Ilero at the farm. The people was excited with the King and wife seeing them in a walking mood. Meanwhile. He had always led his people to monthly exercise holding first Saturday of every month.
The deal day was superb as the monarch hosted dignitaries like Kings from other towns, loyalties from all over the world. Residents and Non residents troupe out enemas witnessing the occasion. He canvassed for peace amongst his people. Passed through the venue where people converge with people who carried the symbols of the festival. Ifaki-Ekiti Agog. ASA night later took place in the night as the monarch received award.
Meanwhile, yesterday was the final lap of the festival as Egun quarter did an overwhelming one with the monarch attending the event to a boisterous crowd.