The traditional head of the Akere Dynasty of Ibadan, Mogaji Moshood Gbolagade Akere was a cynosure of eyes sitting confidently on his horse inside the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium at the Ibadan Cultural Festival Day held last week. In this interview with TheTabloid.net, he shares his experience during the leisure cruise. Excerpts
How and when were you trained to ride a horse?
Truth of the matter is that there was no time it crossed my mind that I should go and learn how to ride a horse. I come from a family that is known for our determination to undertake any task, and we do without looking back. We don’t suffer procrastination in my family. We are brave without any apology, and that quality remains our driving force that distinguishes us. Having said this, I should say I didn’t learn how to ride horse.
Was it the first time you rode a horse?
No. That was not the first time I rode a horse.
Why did you decide to ride the horse to the occasion?
That is an interesting question but I don’t think time would permit you to know the whole details. But let me share one with you. As representative of my warrior clan, I decided to ride the horse to the festival to showcase the image of my forefathers during wars. This is saying that there is history connected with what you saw.
Can you be explicit to ease understanding of our readers?
Why not? Balogun Beyioku Akere attimes rode on horse to the the battle fields. When we were growing up as kids in the family compound, there was a particular place called “Ile Esin”. We also had “Apako fesin”. So, we were exposed to horse right from childhood.
Were you satisfied by this year cultural festival?
I am satisfied, and I pray for improvement next year by God grace. I know that each year festival shall be witnessing improvements. We have a target, which is to show the world what Ibadan really symbolise in history. We are not the largest town in West Africa for fun. It is real. The Ibadan you see today is not the same Ibadan you would see if you come back next month. We keep expanding in size and growing in population. That is why everybody wants to come and live here. Our life is simple. We work very hard and enjoy fruits of our work at social functions. We run a balanced life.
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