To tens of very zealous participants, climbing of the Mountain Onyanja at the 2024 Iba Mountaineering on December 13, came with excitements that disarmed the pains in their bodies and bones.
Singing, drumming and dancing spiced that the fifth edition and distinguished it from the previous with the Eburu of Iba, Oba Adekunle Adeogun Okunoye, promoter of the Eburu Adekunle Yoruba Cultural Renaissance, actively leading the dancers.
Dressed in a white T-shirt, produced for the endurance exercise, the royal father blended incredulously with a band of chanters and bata drummers, demonstrating his hidden talent to also entertain his guests who came to his domain from different Yoruba states, including the aquatic Lagos.
Foremost tourism promoters, Ambassadors Taiwo and Kehinde Oguntoye were part of it and clapped for the Eburu for his dedication to his vision to transform his town to a tourists haven in the nearest future.
“We are told that Iba Town is blessed with 21 mountains and we are happy that Kabiyesi is exploring that nature to bring people to his town. He is directly showing his passion for it. It is a matter of time he gets there,” the Oguntoyes said.
After the successful mountaineering, cultural performances by about 14 troupes of chanters and poets took the centre stage inside the streamside Iyaniwura palace where old and young talents contested for different categories of prizes.
Strictly supervised by a competent panel, comprising Dr Adeola Faleye, a poet cum lecturer at the Linguistic Department of the Obafemi Awolowo University and the Oguntoye twins, it was a keen contest under a friendly atmosphere that matched the dream of Oba Okunoye, who would the following day, urge his fellow traditional rulers to join him in the efforts to revive Yoruba Oriki.
Inside the premises of the Iba Community High School on December 14, the grand finale of the festival lived up to its promotions on radio and social media from the beginning of the year, in terms of presence of monarchs, scholars, professionals, tourists and a host of other invited guests from home and abroad, particularly Professor Helena, who was godmother to the struggling Oba Okunoye during his sojourn in Finland.
The Eburu, who was surprisingly sharing role with Prince Fatai Adiyeloja, the compere of the occasion, told the watching traditional rulers that they have no justification as custodians of custom and tradition folding their arms while Yoruba Cultural heritage is under a threat by foreign influence.
“If this happens, God forbid, then we have failed our oath to preserve what we met on the throne. Let’s develop whatever we have in our towns; time will come they will turn to commercial success. My efforts in the past five years have shown to me that my town is sitting on a treasure in the number of visitors who now show interest to know more about what we do here,” he revealed.
Among the guests listening to the Eburu was a Special Adviser to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Honourable Oloke Kehinde Alexander who stated that the festival keys into the governor’s agenda of cultural reawakening reinvigoration and reorientation and will henceforth be adopted as the state government ‘s project.
The keynote Speaker who is Director UNESCO cultural programs, Professor Olukoya Ogen commended Eburu ‘intervention through Oriki Yoruba festival. He enjoined all present to take advantage of the paradigm shift, the traditional rulers in particular saying time to put an end to unnecessary supremacy battle and work assiduously towards impactful administration of their communities.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi and the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Abolurin also commended the Eburu.
Speaking further, the Eburu canvassed exploration of entrepreneurial dimension to Yoruba culture, making it not only a medium of entertainment but sellable commodity. Gone , he says were the days Obas were always at the receiving ends time to embrace what he called monarchical philanthropism is now.
The occasion featured award presentation for notable figures in culture/academic arena while outstanding chanters got monetary rewards. Adiyeloja and Dr Fatai Toromade were among the recipients of the awards and both expressed their surprise because none of them saw it coming.
“What other assurances do we need than the superlative performances of the greater tomorrow’s , that no force under the sun can extinguish the enviable Yoruba Culture and tradition.
“I want to implore the government to construct our four-kilometre road that links my town to the main highway. There are many who are showing interest in coming. Kindly help us fix this road to have a full compliment of the objective of this annual festival,” Oba Okunoye appealed in a sobre tone.
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