Olumo, a blessing to Egbaland —Alake Commends Otunba Gani Adams
March 23, 2016
HRM Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, has commended the efforts of Otunba Gani Adams, Chief covener, Olokun Festival Foundation, for his contribution towards revival of the cultural heritage of the Yoruba race. He made this statement at the palace, during the grand finale of the week long activities marking the 30th Anniversary of the Lisabi festival.
“I want to commend Otunba Gani Adams for his immense contribution towards the success of Olumo Festival for two days. He came there with about 10,000 of his men and organised different activities which added colour to the event. He has been doing this consistently for the past three years. God will continue to bless you,’’ stated the Alake.
The event, which was graced by eminent sons and daughters of Egbaland, also had Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his cabinet members in attendance. During his speech, Governor Amosun said: “I want to specially thank my friend and brother, Otunba Gani Adams, for supporting this festival. You are highly appreciated.”
Prior to the Olumo Festival, the Miss Olumo Beauty pageant was held at the Centenary Hall, Ake, Abeokuta on Friday March 4, 2016. In a keenly contested competition, 19-year-old Miss Nneka Sunday, a 200 level Business Administration student of the Federal School of Statistics, Ibadan, Oyo State, emerged the Miss Olumo 2016. Miss Olumo 2015 majestically handed over after her successful reign.
Miss Kehinde Kujore, a 200-level Economics undergraduate of the National Open University and Miss Mosunmola Omotayo, a 300 level Political Science student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, emerged the first and second runners up respectively.
The star prize, a saloon car, was presented to the queen during the Olumo festival by the Alake of Egbaland. Fuji icon, Shefiu Alao, entertained the distinguished guests while Mc Kirikiri anchored the event. The first and second runners up got N75,000 and N50,000 respectively.
Otunba Adams, in his speech, said the importance of the Olumo festival could never be over-emphasised.
‘‘Much as the Egba people and the Yoruba in general recognise the heroic contribution of Lisabi to the development of Abeokuta, the Olumo rock also has a very adorable place in the history of the Egba people.
‘‘The annual celebration of the Olumo festival as part of the Lisabi day celebration has provided a very veritable platform for sons and daughters of Egba to come together and project the uniqueness of what mature bequeathed on them. ‘‘My observations since I arrived in Abeokuta and in the last few years have shown that the Egba people really relish the importance of this festival. The continued support of the traditional ruler of this ancient town, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, is a clear indication of the wide acceptance of this celebration.
‘‘Let me, at this point, commend our traditional rulers from different parts of Yoruba land for the newfound love and cordial relationship among them. I was highly elated with reports of the courtesy visits to different traditional rulers in Yoruba land by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi. The new relationship between our traditional rulers id no doubt a right step in the right direction for the development of the Yoruba land.
“The custodian of our tradition, as the Obas are referred to have set a path for Yoruba sons and daughters to follow. ‘‘I also want to encourage our governors and other public office holders to learn from our traditional leaders by uniting to form a unified ground for the development of the Yoruba region,’’ he said.
“In the past, especially during the reign of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory, the Yoruba region was the model for development in other regions, he added. Leaders from other regions in Nigeria were copying the developmental stride of Baba Awolowo and Yoruba land was at the centre stage. ‘‘Let us all have it at the back of our minds that the Lisabi and Olumo festivals are not just for the acrobatic dances. The Olumo festival is not just for us to come and showcase our new hair styles or new clothes. Far from all these. The festival is designed to, first of all, promote the cultural value of the Egba people and that of the Yoruba’s in general.
‘‘We should also note that the essence of this celebration is to foster unity and a common ground for Lisabi Agbongbo Akala. It is expected that the festival will provide an indomitable forum for the different towns in Abeokuta to come together and beunited. The people of Egba should also play a very crucial role in the emancipation of the Yoruba people.
‘‘Lisabi was referred as “Agbongbo Akala” and he was renowned for his heroic bravery that liberated the Egba people. It is also of concern to me that our language is gradually going into extinction.
“Our organisation, the Olokun festival foundation, has over the last few years, been at the forefront of promoting the Yoruba language. As parts of our efforts to inculcate the teaching of Yoruba language in our children, we introduced the Yoruba quiz competition as part of the programme in our festivals.
“It is my passionate appeal to our governors, traditional rulers and well – meaning Yoruba sons and daughters to let us unite and find a way to revive the dying Yoruba language. Let us formulate policies that will aid the teaching and learning of Yorruba language. Let us look at ideas and way through which our language can become fascinating and encouraging to students. Until a few years ago, the site of the Olumo rock was, for a long time, neglected by past successive government in Ogun State.
“There is a very strong need for our government and the people of Yoruba land to develop out historical site into world class tourism centre.’
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