The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi  III has made clarification on the confusion trailing African culture, tradition and festivals which had been labelled fetish, insisting that the ‘Udiroko Festival’ has nothing to do with rituals, fetishism and idolism.

Oba Aladesanmi, also informed that the festival is purely the celebration of the cultural essence of the  Ado people dating back to the establishment of the kingdom, adding that “through the Udiroko Festival,  Ado people generally rejoice that another milestone is covered  or reached in their life’s journey; they have safely scaled the past year over to the new year”.

” No deity is worshipped in Udiroko and no idolatry and secret ceremony is performed. It is a ritual free festival predicted on our historical, cultural and traditional values in Ado-Ekiti”, the monarch explained.

Speaking further at a well attended  world press conference organized in respect of the Udiroko Festival,  which was held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja on Wednesday, ushering in the 2019 edition of the festival billed for August 12 – 20, the far famed custodian of culture,  noted that the most dominant, traditional features of the olden day’s Udiroko festival are still in place  in a modified form and, inline with the dictates of modern civilization with all the events associated with its celebrations  published for everyone to see.

Ewi of Ado, Oba Aladesanmi flanked by the DG, Ekiti State Council Of Arts &Culture, Ambassador Ojo Lanre at the world press conference

Ewi of Ado, at the event which was attended  by stakeholders and bigwigs  in the tourism industry,  tour operators, festival/event consultants, marketers and  Journalists, emphasized that the festival is a cultural phenomenon that strikes at the foundation of the systemic existence of Ado Kingdom and its people.

Unveiling this year’s theme of the festival – ‘Enforcing And Sustaining The Solidarity Of History, Culture And Tradition’, the revered monarch disclosed that the essence of  the press conference is to further , through a more macro strategy put the ‘Udiroko Festival’ on a global platform to better its lot and usefulness to the cultural being of the Ado-Ekiti people.

“I wish to emphatically state that the foregoing articulation of the historical pedigree of the Udiroko Festival and its celebrations over  the years in Ado-Ekiti is for the purpose of further educating the general public.  This is done with a view to fostering its acceptability as one of the components  that form the tripod – history, culture and tradition, upon which the systemic existence of the Ado people is predicted, and which has been so from the inception of the Kingdom”, he added.

Ewi Ado in Council at the world press conference in Lagos

The Ewi of Ado, Oba Aladesanmi, however expressed optimism that the well cherished festival would gain further international recognition that would propel it amidst its cultural peers in other kingdoms and climes within and outside Nigeria.

The story of ‘Udiroko Festival’

‘Udiroko’, which literary means under the iroko tree became significant in the history of Ado Ekiti people and to the people as well , right away from the establishment  of Ado -Ekiti through conquest in the early 1300AD by the third, Ewi Awamaro, the second successor of Ewi (Elewi) Biritiokun, the first Ewi who left Ile-Ife like his fifteen other brother Princes of Oduduwa to establish their own respective kingdoms in 1200AD.

Udiroko is a euphemistic expression of the significant  of the first meeting  of the Ado people under the Iroko tree to celebrate the founding of Ado Kingdom under the Paramountcy of the Ewi who, thereafter gave a Royal Proclamation of the first gathering under the Iroko  tree as the first day in the Ado-Ekiti Calendar year.

The commemoration of this first meeting under the Iroko tree (Idi Igi Iroko) with time , semantically developed into Udiroko as it is known and celebrated today. During the first meeting under the Iroko tree, it was decided that such a gathering  shall continue to be held at the same time/ period every year.

This decision was made with the approval of the Ewi because of the significance of the meeting to the people and its enhancement of the opportunity for the yearly appraisal of the events of the previous year and determination of what to do in the next year.

This festival marks the first day in Ado-Ekiti traditional calendar and now a pride of cultural togetherness of the Ado people.

Also speaking at the event, the Ekiti  State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi expressed his administration’s readiness to partner with the people of Ado-Ekiti to rebrand the Udiroko festival, by globalizing its celebration and seeking for marketers for the festival.

Governor Fayemi, who was represented by  the state Director-General, Council for Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, further disclosed that the collaboration between the state government and the Ado Ewi in Council was to make the festival become self-sustaining and involve Ado-Ekiti indigenes in the Diaspora, as well as those outside the shores of Ekiti.

Director-General, Council for Arts and Culture, Wale Ojo-Lanre addressing the audience at the world press conference

According to  Ojo Lanre,  the council has the full mandate of the government of Dr Fayemi to promote culture as well as core values in order to evolve a State that manifest the vision of its founding fathers; adding that this explains the passion and commitment of the Council towards a collaboration with communities to transform their festivals into a prosperity instrument for the people.

“There is no doubt that the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti has joined the list of monarchs who have at one time or another addressed a world press in a bid to market their festivals to attract global attention and tourists. Osun Osogbo, Olojo and Ojude-Oba festivals have brought the Ataoja, Ooni and Awujale respectively to Lagos on similar purpose. Today, these festivals are bringing economic prosperity and attracting investment opportunity to those who own them.  By this commendable initiative, Udiroko has become a festival for the cultural and tourism public, the manifestation of which would become noticeable in subsequent editions.

“Since it is within the compass of our purview to inject critical innovations into the original manners of celebrating festivals in Ekiti, we initiated this world press conference in furtherance of the strategic marketing of some Ekiti festivals. We have noticed the energy and vigor with which the Ewi and the people of Ado prepare and celebrate Udiroko annually hence our decision to partner with Ado Ekiti people to rebrand the festival, Globalize its celebration, Seek marketers for the festival so that it becomes self-sustaining, Clear the air over petty controversies and stigmas that threaten its sustainability and Involve Ado-Ekiti indigenes in the diaspora as well as those outside the shores of Ekiti State”, the DG continued.

The Chairman of the occasion, Prince Julius Adelusi   in his welcome address  noted that the festival aimed at  encouraging young people  to embrace the culture and tradition of  Ado Ekiti.

L-R DG Wale Ojo Lanre, Prince Adelusi and Prof Akindele sharing ideas at the world press conference

“Ekiti man is known for  integrity  and upholding values and this has been of great help in  life”, Adelusi submitted.

In a related development, the Chairman, Organising Committee, Professor Sunday Akindele assured  residents. tourists and indigenes that the committee has put in place adequate security measures.

The event, also had in attendance, prominent Ekiti indigenes , including Senator Raji Rasaki, Hon Sola Elesin, Deputy Chairman APC Ekiti state, Hon Femi Bamisile, Chairman Ado Ekiti Local Government,  Engineer Ayoola, President Adk Ekiti Progressive Union, Hon Sola Fatoba, among others.