Gani Adams commends Osun Osogbo Festival 2015

This year’s edition of the annual Osun Osogbo Festival took place penultimate Friday with a lot of pomp and pageantry. Despite the harsh economic situation in the country and particularly in Osun State where civil servants are owed months of salaries, the ancient town of Osogbo, the Osun State capital came alive with the festival. From the eve of the festival, several people including Nigerians living in the country and those in the Diaspora as well as nationalities of other countries started trooping into the ancient town. Last year’s celebration of the festival was low-key and was only marked by those residing in Osun State as the state government prevented people from other parts of the country and abroad entry into the state because of the fear of the Ebola virus which was noted in some states in the country then. By early Friday, the town was agog as people started trooping to the Osun Sacred Grove where the worship of Osun goddess took place. Dedicated to Osun, the Yoruba goddess of fertility, the Grove was established more than four centuries ago and is the largest of the sacred groves that have survived to the present. In 2005, the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove was designated a World Heritage Site. The high point of the grand finale was when the votary maid (Arugba Osun) carried a calabash filled with antiquities to worship the goddess of the river. Present at the grove for the worship of the Osun goddess were traditional rulers and chiefs led by the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Larooye 11; representatives of Osun State government led by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; traditional spiritual leaders and several other people from different walks of life including high presence of the members of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, led by its national coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams. Those in attendance took jerry cans and bottles with which they collected Osun water which is revered for healing of bareness, as Osun is known as god that provides children. Foreigners who participated in this year’s edition of the festival also applauded its uniqueness and cultural values. After the worshipping of Osun goddess at the Grove, a reception was organized for the people at Isale Osun area, Osogbo, by a non-governmental organization, the Olokun Festival Foundation. The attendees at the reception were treated to cultural display by various drama groups and musical entertainments. They were also presented with food and drinks as well as showered with different gifts. Speaking at the reception, the Chief Promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation, Otunba Gani Adams said Osun Osogbo is the most recognized festival in the history of this country. He said that the determination of the people made the Osun Osogbo to bounce back stronger this year. “Osun Festival has proved to Africans in the Diaspora that it is an event which is one of the best in the world. There was a challenge last year because of the Ebola virus, but Osun Festival is celebrated with pomp this year. You can see it from the large turnout of the people here,” he said. Adams, who is also the Convener of the Oodua Progressive Union, OPU, appealed to the federal government to invest in the development of tourist sites, saying that with this, the nation will generate more revenue. He thanked Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji; and the government of the State of Osun for their commitment to the promotion of our cultural heritage. He said even though government at both the state and federal level did not partake much in the festival this year, the royal majesty, Ataoja of Osogbo as the symbol of Osogbo community stood his ground to ensure the celebration of the festival despite the economic hardship. Adams also called on Yoruba not to forget their culture, saying that practicing foreign religions should not in any lead to extinction of Yoruba culture.