Regent of Ayeka, Oluyemi Bajowa celebrates Ejo with fanfare
– Steve Ovirih.
The year 2020 Ejo festival has begun in Ayeka Kingdom, Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ondo South Senatorial District. Ejo Ayeka is an annual traditional festival of love which gathers members of the community together to feast, dine and wine in appreciation to the gods of the land who have kept them alive to witness the celebration.
In Yoruba parlance and its Ikale variety, ‘Ejo’ is a clip of a longer tone “Odunjo” meaning ‘the year has round its trip and the time of the year for the feast of love has come,’ hence the massive celebration.
: The festivity kicked off on the eve of Wednesday, the 4th November at ” the Ogwa” where members of the kingdom kept vigil, singing the traditional folk songs of Ayeka Ule in electrifying lyrics that the people danced to in excitement.
The local bard and his enchanting drummers serenaded the atmosphere with family panegyrics of all the major families and quarters in Ayeka in a two hundred chant songs and lyrics. Each family unit filed out to dance and pay libation to the gods as soon as the bard called out their names.
At the mention of the Lulaire clan and as the bard reeled out the achievement of this clan in praise songs, the entire hall came alive with rhythmic dance steps as the Regent of Ayeka took the floor to celebrate her ancestors.
Other major features of the event at the Ogwa was the breaking of the cola nut for traditional prayers and wishes of peace and growth of Ayeka Kingdom, Ondo State and Nigeria in general.
Speaking with thepolity.net, Regent Oluyemi Bajowa said Ejo is an annual festival and it signifies love among sons and daughters of Ayeka Ule. She said the eve is observed at the Ogwa with dancing , singing and prayers to the gods of the Land. ” As a community that holds her tradition in high esteem, we have continued in our generation to sustain the tradition of our forefathers , part of which is holding annually the Ejo festival. It’s a celebration in which everybody from Ayeka sojourning in other lands return home , so the festival is always looked forward to as it gives everyone the opportunity to see once again their kit and kin in far away places,” the Regent noted.
In his own reaction, the Prime Minister of Ayeka Kingdom, Lisa, High Chief Babatunde Ayeyowa said the festival is one of the main plank of unity in the kingdom. She thanked the Regent of Ayeka for her love for the tradition of her forefathers and her commitment to the growth of Ayeka Kingdom.
Barr. Kayode Obolo who also spoke with thepolity.net noted that the celebration is a noble one and the youths are happy to learn its significance as they are all around to witness it and follow all the activities going on in the hall with attention.
On Thursday, the 5th November, which is the D Day, the town gathered at the palace of the Lumure of Ayeka Kingdom for the feast proper as the Regent hosted her subjects to a sumptuous reception. The Ayeka maestro and highlife musician “Opa ehin” provided musical entertainment at the event.
The reception had earlier been preceded by a session of the high chiefs “Ajo” where prayers were offered for the town .
