Olojo Festival: Ooni Appears In Aare Crown For 7th Time

There is one historic celebration, known as Olojo festival, commemorated annually in Ile-Ife, which has further lent credence to ancient city as a symbol of authority and where all human being migrated from to establish other parts of the world.

Historically, there is no doubting the fact that Ile-Ife, an ancient town in the South Western part of Nigeria is the cradle of human existence, just as science with empirical knowledge, Biblical and Quranic discoveries on creation on creation, dated back tens of thousands of years ascribed to the town with its symbol of authority as the source of humankind.

This year’s Olojo Festival marked the 7th time that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi will appear in Aare crown since his ascension to the throne.

Mention must be made of the symbol and custodian of Yoruba customs and traditions, the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Babatunde Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who since his assumption on the throne about seven years ago has brought great honour and prestige to the throne.

READ: Ile-Ife Agog For Olojo Festival

There was wild jubilation in Ile-Ife on Saturday as Oba Ogunwusi, appeared to the waiting mammoth crowd with the historical and sacred Aare crown on his head which he wore for the seventh time since his enthronement.

The crown, which weighs over 7kg, is always worn once in a year by the Ooni during which time major gods in the city are appeased.

The Aare is a special crown made of 151 items, among  which are a cutlass and hoe.  The crown is always worn during the annual Olojo festival in the ancient city.

 

The festival, which is believed to be a celebration of the creation of the first dawn, the first afternoon and the first night in creation of mankind, witnessed the presence of dignitaries, artists, traditional rulers and government officials.

As the Ooni walked out with the Aare crown, thousands of viewers, both  indigenes and non-indigenes of Ile-Ife prayed and hailed the king.

Dressed in all white apparel, Oba Ogunwusi, who had been in seclusion for seven days, left his residence for Oke Emese (Emese court) within the palace premises, around 4: 00 pm to perform final rites before he wore the mystical Aare crown.

At exactly 5pm, Oba Ogunwusi came out with Aare crown on his head and a white dove, praying for the peace and progress of the ancient city and the black race.

He subsequently proceeded amidst prayers and several gunshots to Oke Mogun(Ogun shrine) and Idi Aje two major ports of call during Olojo Festival where rituals and prayers were said for the peace of Nigeria and Yoruba race.

Before the Ooni commenced the trip, his traditional emissaries known as Emese, who wore only shorts, wielding coated canes performed the symbolic sprint to Oke Mogun shrine three times to clear the route the monarch would take.

According to myth, it was made from many items, which included among others 149 undisclosed objects, cutlasses and hoes. It weighs 100 kilogrammes. The crown holds greater significance in the Olojo celebration. Ooni of Ife is spiritually empowered to wear this sacred crown, during the Olojo festival, which is too heavy for him to bear on just any other day.

Historically, it is believed there is a deep tie between the sacred crown and Ogun deity, the god of iron due to the crown’s components and it must be brought before Ogun deity at Oke-Mogun shrine in Ile-Ife on each Olojo festival season.

The crowns which is a symbol of peace, unity, blessing and prosperity is believed to attract people to itself when the Ooni bears it. But, it is forbidden, as history dictates, for the reigning Ooni to have even a glimpse of inside of the sacred crown. While Ooni dons it, he is transmogrified into its true nature, Orisa, whose visage has been said to be to behold.