By Jimoh Babatunde
THE frenzy of activity in the ancient
town of Osogbo last week Friday was indescribable as devotees of
Osun as well as lovers of culture trooped out for yet another
celebration of goddess of Osun river. The celebration of the Osun
festival dates back to the 13th century and has grown to become the
most famous of all traditional festivals in the South-Western part of
the country.
Recognisedfestival One can not but
agree with Otunba Gani Adams who said Osun Osogbo is the most
recognised festival in the history of Nigeria. “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.
As early as 7am on that faithful
Friday, the major streets leading to the groove from the palace of
the Ataoja of Osogbo land, had been taken over by large crowd
positioned to have a clear view of the Votary maid (Arugba).
The Arugba is usually the centre of
activities on the final day of the two week long festival. As she
made her way from the palace at the Oja-Oba to the groove with the
ritual calabash meant to appease and worship the Osun goddess, the
crowd went wild in jubilations offering prayers as she lead the
people to the Osun shrines.
They sang, danced as they followed the
Arugba and the Oba to the groove, Chief Gabriel Oparanti, the
second in command to the Ataoja, said the festival has been
celebrated since Oba Larooye founded Osogbo many centuries ago.
He revealed that the goddess of the river was a living being, and the
annual festival was to appreciate it for its covenant which it
never breaks.
“The goddess has been so faithful to
us and there are many testimonies to prove its faithfulness to us”.
On the continued progress and development which Osun groove has
achieved since the Osun festival started, the Osogbo high chief
stressed that the festival will continue to attract multitudes due
to the covenant between the goddess of the river and the founding
fathers of the town.
He said “Year in year out the Osun
Osogbo festival attract mammoth crowd, with unprecedented list of
eminent personalities gracing the festival which is celebrated at
the shrine, located in the outskirts of the capital of Osun state.”
“There was an everlasting covenant between the goddess of the river
and the founding fathers of Osogbo land. It was a unique covenant
and the covenant cannot be broken. Since we have always honoured our
own part, the goddess of the river has to honour its.
Little wonder why Osun festival has
turned to an international festival that is now celebrated not only
in Osogbo or Nigeria, but in some other foreign countries of the
world like Brazil and France” he said. For Chief Ifayemi
Elebuibon, the Araba of Osogbo, while expressing happiness at the
turn out of devotees and tourists, said there is no doubt in the
ability of the goddess of the river to give to people whatever their
requests.
“My mother was barren for several
years and she later went to river Osun where she was promised a child
if she could drink the water from Osun River, and I was told that my
mother conceived that same month and I am the product of that
covenant, that’s why I was named Osundagbonu.” He revealed that
he derived his first name, Osundagbonu from the goddess of the
river, having been given birth to after a promise to his mother by
the priestess of the river.
Jimoh Buraimoh, an Osogbo-based artist
and key stakeholder of the festival, is particularly happy that this
year’s festival is better than last year’s. “I am happy because
this year’s event is better than last year,” he said. “The
Ebola crisis almost denied us the opportunity last year; but you can
see that all that has now changed.”
For Nike Okundaye, another globally
respected artist of the Osogbo art school: “We are all happy
because if you come here, you will see that everybody in Osogbo is
happy. The festival this year is well organised because we were not
happy with what happened last year.”
Culture andtradition
Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, speaking later
with some reporters said the growing number of people from several
cultures identifying with the festival shows how much of a
world-acclaimed event it has attained. This, according to him, is
critical in the preservation of culture and tradition.
“There is the need to fully
appreciate and register my gratitude to UNESCO for not only
designating the Osun Grove as a World Heritage Monument, but for also
elevating the festival beyond the shores of Osogbo, Osun State,
Nigeria, to the whole world,” he said. He also used the occasion to
urge the Osun people, and Nigerians, not to emulate the attitude of
people who throw away their culture. “Your culture is the only way
that you can show
- See more at:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/devotees-tourists-celebrate-yet-another-osun-festival/#sthash.vWU77N7O.dpuf
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