The 2024 edition of the biannual Okemesi day celebration has come and gone, but the memory of the fiesta will continue to linger forever in the minds of the indegenes and those that attended the historical event, considering the communal love that characyerised the ceremony.
Okemesi-Ekiti, an ancient boarder town located in Ekiti West Local Government Area in the Central Senatorial District of Ekiti State is one of the notable and historical town in Ekiti State and Nigeria at large.
The ancient community popularly called ”Land of Honour” was on Saturday 26th October, 2024, came alive following the large numbers of spectators and special guests that trooped into the agrarian town to cash the glimpse of the carnival-ike ceremony.
The 2024 edition of the celebration is the 22nd edition to be organised by the community was another avenue for the people of the town to showcased their rich cultural heritage.
The week-long ceremony organized by the apex socio-cultural organisation group in the town called the Federation of Okemesi Improvement Union and the planning committee, feature several activities heralding from a well-organised press conference, free medical treatment, talents hunt night, football and other game competitions, clamoured with fund raising and launching among others.
The biannual carnival-like ceremony is always unique and important to the people of Okemesi and visitors at large who turned out in their large numbers from far and near to witness the display of rich culture, tradition and communal bond at its best.
Unlike an annual traditional festival celebrated in most Ekiti towns and in Yoruba land in general, the Okemesi day celebrations comes once in every three years, it is always an avenue for indegenes at home and those in diaspora to reunion, reunite, rejoice, celebrate and discuss on the way faward and development in the ancient town.
As part of the 224 edition of the celebration, several socio-cultural tribes, such as Urohbo, Ebira, Igbo, Fulani, Igala, Igede, Nupe and Hausa were not left behind as they also added glamour to the grand occasion.
The situation apparently was responsible for the large turn out of indigenes and guests in high expectations of the long expected ceremony which was last celebrated some years ago due to a nationwide economy downturn.
The 2024 edition of the celebration was marked by loud celebration in many streets and major roads in the town, as the ‘Olobinrin Ile’ from various compounds in the town painted the sleepy community red dancing round the town, many of them in special uniforms and attire for the occasion, while a few others entertained the crowd with different local drums to the admiration of enthusiastic spectators who have come from far and near to witness the colourful ceremony.
As early as 10:15am, hundreds of Okemesi sons and daughters including visitors stormed the Fabunmi Memorial High School plain ground, venue of the grand finale of the ceremony,
In what signalled the opening of the grand finale of the cultural fiesta, the arrival of the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, CON, the Owa Oòyè of Okemesi in companed of his Oloris and other Chiefs amidst dancing and share later electrified the ceremony.
The revered monarch was later joined by a retinue of other first class traditional rulers from various towns within and outside Ekiti State, the first monarch to joined was Olojudo of Ido-Ile Ekiti, a neighbouring community to Okemesi, Oba Obaleye among others dignitaries.
Speaking at the event, the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji congratulated the Kabiyesi, all sons and daughters of the community for witnessing another unique celebration in unison.
Governor Oyebanji who spoke through the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti State, Olawale Fapohunda described Okemesi community as home of intellectual giants and a town with rich cultural heritage among Yoruba land.
The Governor who reinstated his commitment towards bringing more developmental projects to the ancient town, however thanked the people of the community over their supports since the inception of his administration as governor of the state.
Similarly, in his keynote address, the Chairman, Planning Committee for the celebration, Hon. Oyekola Bode-Adeoye, welcome all guests to the occasion. He thanked members of the committee for their commitment towards the successful event and the development of the community despite their busy scheduled.
According to him, “Okemesi Day is a bi-annual event purposely organised to bring everyone in the community, both home and abroad together in communal love for the celebration of unity and harmonious co-existence in a most patriotic way that uplifts our community and engender peace and tranquility which are the necessary catalysts for progress and meaningful development in any community”.
Bode-Adeoye hinted that, “Okemesi Day last held in 2018 and we have not been able to hold another one due to one prevailing reason or the other. I am therefore super happy that our community is fully back on the track of integration, brotherhood and communal love with an uncommon spirit of patriotism and determination as a people and a community that is very ready for the desired maximum cooperation that will herald speedy development and improvements of our environment in a manner that it prospers everyone”.
He applauded the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji on the reconstruction of the Itawure – Okemesi, Ido-Ile and Okemesi – Ijero road which he has affirmed his absolute resolve to execute these projects. He therefore, pledge the total support of Okemesi people towards the success of Mr governor’s administration beyond 2027.
In an interview with the Chairman, Okemesi/Ido-Ile Local Council Development Area LCDA, Hon. Chief Owolabi Ajibade and one of the illustrious son of the town who also doubled as a member of the planning committee, Mr Gbenga Oluwaniyi congratulate the monarch of the town and the people of Okemesi over the successful celebration .
The duo appealed to all sons and daughters to continue donating bountifully towards the realisation of the targeted N100 million Appeal Fund for the completion of the on-going construction of a befitting and ultra-modern royal palace in the town.
Highpoint of the grand finale of the event is fund-raising for the the completion of the ongoing ultra-modern Owa-Ooye Palace and other developmental projects in the town
The event also featured the exciting Ijala rendition where intermittent booming of the guns rented the air as part of the contribution of traditional hunters in the the town and one of the ways of adding glamour to the historic event.
Others include Ayo Olopon, theater presentation, parade of masquerades where homage were also paid to the king and entertained the attendees with their dancing skills as they were equally rewarded with naira notes from the king and appreciative spectators.
It is also interesting to know that not more than over hundred of different “Olobinrin Ile” from various quarters also paid homepage and thereby displayed each in order to thrilled guests with various special and unique attire “aso ebi” of many colours.
While the colourful event lasted, there was no any untoward event as men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Amotekun Corps and other security outfits were fully unground to take charge of security of lives and properties before, during and after the ceremony.
In his royal message at the occasion, the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, JP, CON, appealed to both the State and Federal Government to join hands together apparently to transform the community into an international standard and attract global recognition.
According to the Monarch, “I am delighted today seeing personalities around and celebrating together. I give glory to God Almighty for the peace and harmony in Okemesi. Although, no Royal Father is without a challenge, but I thank my subjects for their immense support and love, which have helped me bear the heavy weight of my legislative, executive and judiciary responsibilities”.
Oba Adedeji, who stressed the needs for the indigenes of the town to be more patriotic, saying, through this “we can fast-track a better and stronger society.”
Similarly , the Chief Executive Officer Vital Foam Company, who is also the the Asiwaju of Okemesi, Chief Samuel Bolarinde admonished all notable indigenes of the community to always give back to the society who brought them to limelights.
His words: “We need a lot of money for the developmental projects and many of our people are doing well outside, but they don’t normally come home for this kind of annual get-together” he stated.
In an interview with Journalists, the National President of the Federation of Okemesi Improvement Unions (FOIU), Engr. Nathaniel Olaoye, thank all sons and daughters of the community for their support in various capacity to ensure the town move forward.
He described the event as a rallying point to Okemesi indigenes both home and diaspora which according to him the tempo must sustained for the generation yet unborn.
His words: “We don’t have any other home to call ours, this is our source and we must ensure that our heritage must not die, each and everyone needs to contribute their quotas for her success.
Also, the FOIU vice president, Otunba Kayode Olagunju explained that over time, the celebration has become a major rallying point and attraction to the people of the town who converge once every three-years from all walks of life to observe the beauty of our culture and tradition.
He disclosed that the 2024 edition of the celebration was unique, noted that it was well planned, well organized and very successful indeed.
Otunba Olagunju therefore charged all sons and daughters of the community to be more participating in organising, fund-raising and the development of the town.
The biannual event was indeed a moment of high frenzy and celebration as the community showcased it’s unique export to the nation’s cultural essence.
A live bands from the world-class gospel maestro, Apostle Elijah Akintunde, popularly known as Olórun Kò So Béé, who is also an indegene of the town and other several cultural groups, side attraction shows were fully on standby to thrilled guests.