In accordance with UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity: “(Re)affirming that culture should be regarded as the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs,”
The 6th Ààrẹ Aláwọ̀ Ẹkùn Festival of Peace and Progress will be marked in the Aarẹ of Ofiki Kingdom, Atisbo LGA Oyo State Nigeria within December 21-24, 2023.
Alayeluwa Ọba Gbenga Adigun Adeoye Oyetunji Oyinlola II Ààrẹ Ofiki organizes a 4-day event in Decembers with features that depict the spiritual, material, intellectual, arts, literature, value systems, traditions and beliefs of Ofiki people.
The first day of the event, Thursday, 21st of December, 2023, there will be a role play on the spiritual token for chosing king for the people of Ofiki. This is to ensure every dweller irrespective of their nationality, ethnicity and faith persuasion see the wisdom of old in display and how orderliness has been maintained since 1600. In addition, both physical (hiking of about 250m Ọbàtálá rock) and spiritual (prayer groups based on individual’s belief) exercises take the early part of the 12-hours gathering.
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By the mid-day, there will be cultural display from Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Batɔ̃mbu, Guruma, kprakpra, Yẹndé, Berebu; plus magic performance as well as musical, cognomen interludes follow. By 1pm, pounded yam raps with isapa/egusi soup from about 42 villages would have been already everywhere. While the soul and the body are being entertained, networking, business deals and other productive relationships go on.
Among the dignitaries expected at the event are Oyo State Government and the senatorial district representatives, the monarchs in and outside OkeOgun, business tycons, clergy men, traditionalists, farmers, herders, artists, media houses and all.
The rest of the days, 22nd through 24th of December are for further spiritual drilling. Special Juma’ah Prayer and admonition on Friday; Consecration Service at Ìgbàlẹ̀ Traditionalists temple on Saturday; and Thanksgiving Service at IretiOgo Baptist Church Ofiki on Sunday to draw the cotton close till next year.
