Festival: Ooni Of Ife Restates Commitment To Cultural Preservation

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II has reiterated the need to pay special attention and make pragmatic plans to preserve the nation’s cultural heritages, traditions and forge it into tourism development.

The first-class monarch made the call at a media parley held at his palace in preparation for the annual Olojo Festival which holds from September 26 and 30.

Ogunwusi noted that people’s cultural heritage is a goldmine which needs to be acknowledged, respected and developed into tourism sites which will in turn create jobs for our people.

The 51st Ooni of Ife said the Olojo festival heralds the essence of the Ooni and Aare crown, a special mystery crown weighing 50kg which is worn only during the Olojo (meaning the owner of the day in Yoruba).

He added that whoever prays through the Aare crown, such a person would experience answers to the prayers and unexpected fortune.

“Our culture which is unique to us needs to be respected, preserved and turned into tourist potential opportunities making up our creative economy. We all need to know this again and again as the Olojo Festival kicks off. Tourists who are coming to witness the festival should pray to God through the Aare crown, such a person will enjoy prosperity and abundant blessings from Eledumare.

“I had prayed through the crown three times and my prayer requests were answered, and this shows that the crown is not an ordinary crown,” the Ooni said.

Speaking further in the presence of dignitaries, guests and sponsors of this year’s festival, Ogunwusi said, “Olojo Festival is a festival celebrated by a single largest race in the world, that’s the Yoruba people. But many things are linked to us from beautiful names, culture and heritage, we are about 250 million people up to the Brazil, Caribbean and parts of Niger State and Ilorin in Nigeria.”