Ooni Resuscitates Edi Festival

By Sola Jacobs

The long abandoned Edi festival came alive at the ancient city of Ile-Ife at the weekend as Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi described Oluorogbo deity as a selfless deity that turns himself into sacrificial lamb for humanity, hence the need to remember him, as the author of peace and sanity among other deities in the world.

Edi festival which is celebrated annually in Ile-Ife, commemorate, the sacrifice of Oluorogbo who was the only son of Moremi, a Yoruba heroine, to save the people of the ancient city from their predators thousands of years ago.

Speaking at the celebration, Ooni Ogunwusi, said to forget the sacrifice of Oluorogbo to the people of the cradle of Yoruba race is tantamount to ungratefulness, as he willingly submitted himself to appease the Esinmirin stream that effect the triumph of the people against their enemy.

He postulated further that “there is no difference between Oluorogbo and Jesus Christ, the son of God that Christian believed-in, for they both sacrificed their lives for the salvation of all souls.

Jesus Christ brought peace and unity to the whole world, so also did Olurogbo delivered people at the time of trouble by allowing peaceful coexistence to reign supreme”, Ooni Ogunwusi revealed.

The Ooni refuted the belief that Ife indigenes are idol worshipers, on the contrary, Ife people are only worshiping God and upholding the cultural heritage and tradition of Yoruba race.

He therefore urged the populace to give room for peace and unity, as no one can achieve greatness in life without peace and showing love to others.

The Chief Priest of the deity, Chief Adebayo Orisayemi in his remark, thanked Ooni Ogunwusi for resuscitating the festival and urged all to emulate the values bequeathed to humanity by the deity.

Professor Deborah Lime, an anthropologist from Federal University of Minas Gerasis, who was a guest at the festival urged Yoruba to value their cultural heritage, as she said that culture and values are essential ingredients for National development.

The celebrations witness influx of culture enthusiasts from Brazil, Jamaica, United Kingdom among many others.