By Collins Dupson
The 2021 Igogo Festival in the ancient town of Owo kingdom came with a mild drama as the Olowo of Owo Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye failed to enter the palace of Ojomo Oluda of Ijebu, Owo, Oba Kofoworola as tradition of Igogo festival demands.
Igogo festival is held annually in September to honor Queen Oronsen, a mythical wife of Rerengejen. During the festival, Olowo and high chiefs of Owo Kingdom dress like women with coral beads, beaded gowns and plaited hair.
It is a taboo to wear headgears and caps as well as beating of drums and firing of guns are not allowed during the festival. It usually referred to as the festival of the maiden or love,is an age long festival celebrated by the Olowo and all the people of Owo in honour of one of the wives of the monarch.
The festival which is usually celebrated with pomp always attract sons and daughters of the ancient town and tourists from around the globe.
The shunning of Ojomo palace to some people interviewed by the PATH shows that, the two brothers are likely to be at war path, though no reason was given by the two monarchs.
PATH findings showed that, Ojomo refused to observed the aged long tradition of paying homage to Olowo at his palace a day preceding Olowo Igogo dance around the town. It is the tradition of celebration and love bond between brothers but reverse is the case in this year Igogo festival.
Oba Ajibade who has to performed some ritual in some designated places in the town, Ijebu Owo inclusive, most especially at the Ojomo market, only passed the front of Ojomo’s Palace without paying homage to his brother unlike previous year.
According to tradition, Ojomo is expected to meet his brother (Olowo) at a place called Aboludo, where both of them will dance together to Ojomo Palace where Olowo will spend hours gisting, discussing with Ojomo at his palace with a lot to eat and dine. Both of them with enter the market together for the rite and later escort him to Aboludo where Ojomo will return to his palace.
Oba Ajibade Ogunoye while feeding questions from newsmen prayed for the unity of Owo, adding that his plan to make Igogo Festival an international festival has begun to gathered momentum. He charged every son and daughter of Owo to always remember home and contribute their little best to the community.
Speaking to newsmen on the development, Prince Agboola Ajayi said the two monarch are brothers and whatever that led to their actions will be resolved amicably without third party interference.
On his part, the Sasere of Owo berated Ojomo for broken his brotherly bond established by their forefathers with Olowo by not observing the tradition guiding the festival, adding that despite the shunning, 2021 Igogo festival was celebrated peacefully amidst love and unity.
Chief Femi Adekanbi, former commissioner of Art and Culture in Ondo congratulated Olowo for a successful Igogo Festival, saying Oba Ogunoye reign has ushered in good things to Owo Kingdom.
As at the time of filing this report, no concrete reason has been given for the action of both king. Remember that Owo is the home town of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN who supported the ascension to the throne of current Olowo.
