Igbogbo Still Preserving History, Culture Through Oro Songs

Kunle Adelabu

-Adeboruwa calls for collaborations

The Igbogbo Kingdom which is an ancient town and one of the earliest settlements in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, has continued to sustain and preserve its cultural and traditional values from generation to generation and there is no sign of relenting.

Such was the purpose when the monarch, traditional chiefs, traditional groups, residents of the town as well as eminent personalities from far and near gathered at the Adeboruwa palace to launch two albums produced by the Igbogbo Cultural Heritage Group.

The albums, composed by Chief Sotomiwa Omotayo and Chief Lookman Oladunni, are titled, ”Message (Aroko)’ and ‘Tribute to Hon. Rotimi Sotomiwa’ respectively.

The albums are compilation of Oro cultural songs and were unveiled on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, as part of the preparations towards the two forthcoming Oro festivals in the town.

The launch of albums is a further sustenance of preservation of the important cultural songs which was started from the era of late Hon. Rotimi Sotomiwa, former representative of Ikorodu Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly and the ‘Amuludun’ of Igbogbo, and a departure from the reliance on oral form of the songs which are gradually going into oblivion.

While the Oro Abosan festival is slated for Saturday, July 30, the Oro Meri would come up later in August.

Oro songs, which are popular cultural performance among the people of Ijebu, serve as means of preservation and reconstructing history of the people, correctional measures for behaviours against the norms, avenue for praising good deeds and stock taking for developments.

In the past, composers usually visited homes of notable and other people at night during the Oro week to either sing or compose songs to praise or condemn them while such people are expected to appreciate the cultural group by spraying them money and also entertain them with drinks and dance.

The composed songs also form major parts of the activities at the market square on the final day of the Oro festival where it is rendered and residents (mainly men who are entitled to be outdoor on the Oro day while women usually stay indoor and those who have important things to do always move out of the town to stay with family members and friends in neighbouring towns), have the opportunity to listen and enjoy the rich cultural songs in Ijebu/Remo dialect.

They are also opportuned to know those that are praised, condemned as well as important happenings in the town since the last festival.

Unfortunately, this important aspect of the culture of the Ijebu people is gradually going into extinction because of the deaths of leaders of cultural groups and more disheartening is the fact that many of these lead singers who are usually from a particular family did not have those to take over from them.

But things are now changing as there is a rebirth of cultural awareness with the younger generation now willingly partaking and taking prominent roles in traditional and cultural activities, especially learning the Oro songs.

In his royal message at this important occasion, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, expressed his happiness at the efforts of the group in preserving the kingdom’s cultural values.

“I am happy that we are gathered again this year for the launching of another set of albums. We were all here last year when the first album was launched and by the grace of God, we will be present next year when it is time for another one”, the first class royal father said.

“I am charging members of the Oro cultural group to continue with their good work and ensure that they relate with love and advice given by the Iyalode of Igbogbo”.

While charging them to sustain the commitment, Oba Kasali also called for collaborations and cooperation between Oro cultural groups in Igbogbo and Ikorodu.

“I am thanking our producer from Ikorodu and I am looking forward to when there will be collaborations between the two Oro cultural groups in Ikorodu and the two in Igbogbo, in releasing an album for launch”, Adeboruwa said.

“I can see that the groups are working together the same way elders before them did and I pray that such cooperation will continue to exist”, he added.

The royal father thanked the Odofin of Ikorodu and the Baba Oba of Igbogbo for his support for the cultural group and other guests in attendance.

His Chief Tajudeen Alade Duduyemi Onasanya, the Odofin Igbogbo and Oloritun of Itun Abosan, while also commending the Igbogbo Cultural Heritage Group, said that the Oro songs help in preserving culture and tradition of Igbogbo people.

“It is a very commendable effort by the traditional singers. We are really proud of them for sustaining our tradition and cultural heritage”, he said.

“The significance of compiling ‘Orin Oro’ (Oro songs) into an album is to preserve our cultural heritage and sustain our values.

“It is through this that we are bring back happenings in the community. It is a very important aspect of our culture that we value greatly”, Odofin added.

One of the lead singers, Chief Sotomiwa Omotayo, a brother to late Hon. Rotimi Sotomiwa, speaking with THE IMPACT, said that their efforts are geared towards sustaining age – long traditional practice and also serve as watchdog for the community.

“The albums are released for the 2022 Oro festivals just like our ancestors used to compose songs for Oro from time immemorial”, he said.

“It is an ancient traditional practice which the community revels in. Oro songs are used to praise those with good deeds in a community and cautioned people with bad attitudes for the purpose of making them change for good”, he recalled.

“It is an old traditional and cultural practice that we are trying to sustain and ensure that our people do good in the community. Through this, people are aware that they are being watched.

“It is just like the role journalists are playing today, but back then, there was no journalism, it was through these Oro songs that we preserve people’s actions and developments in our community”, Chief Sotomiwa added.

The tracks in the album by Chief Sotimiwa titled, ‘Message’ (Aroko), are ‘Iba Akoda Aiye’, ‘Alogba’, ‘Eluku’, ‘Ishena Kena’, ‘Ema je kan danwo’, ‘Kugba Eja dari Sowere’, ‘Oye e si mi je’ and ‘Nigeria’ among others.

There are also tracks dedicated to prominent people like ‘High Chief (Prince) Adewunmi Ogunsanya’, ‘Oluwo Igbogbo (Ayanilowo)’, ‘Late HRM Oba Olatunji Fatola’, ‘High Babatunde Ogunmuyiwa’, ‘High Chief Tajudeen Onasanya’, and ‘HRM Oba Akeem Obateru’ among others.

In the second album are tracks like: ‘Tribute to Hon. Rotimi Sotimiwa’, ‘Hon. Ko mi loyinbo’, ‘Masun lorun Olasiji Rotimi’, ‘Kayira bode’, ‘Oro Aro Ilu’, ‘Mo jawe Oriji’, ‘Eni Ere Itunmokun’, ‘Eni Oja ere’ and ‘Ilu wen mi wo’ among others.

other guests at the ceremony are High Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya, the Ofofin of ikorodu represented by High Chief Hakeem Oreagba, the Olumale Eluku, Ikorodu, High Chief Babatunde Ogunmuyiwa, the Odofin of Ijede, Alhaji Sulaimon Adekunle, the Alakoso Adeen of igbogbo Central Mosque, Princess Ireti Alwajud, daughter of late of Oba Olatunji Fatola and Prince Segun Fatola represented the Fatola family, Mr Hamee Olalekan Aroyewun, former aspirant, Ikorodu Constituency II seat, Lagos State House of Assembly and Mr Kabir Ibikunle among many others.