Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye with Oladipupo Folayemi, Faleti Kehinde & Olaleye Taiwo (SIWES Students)
-Festival symbolizes wealth, prosperity, unity – Oba Kasali, Odofin Onasanya
The ancient community of Igbogbo, the headquarters of Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, on Monday, came alive with rich cultural displays as hundreds of traditional rulers, market leaders, traders and residents gathered to celebrate the expanded Aje Oloja Festival (Wealth Festival).
Dressed in white attires, which signifies purity and abundance, the crowd, which converged on the boundary between Ikorodu and Igbogbo, embarked on procession down to the Adeboruwa palace in Igbogbo, for the grand celebration of the festival which His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, explained that it is an expanded formed of a festival which has been long celebrated in the community.
Oba Kasali, who hosted the festival, said that it symbolises wealth, unity, and prosperity in the community.
Hosted by His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, this year’s celebration featured vibrant processions, spiritual rituals, and colorful cultural displays. Dressed in all-white attires representing purity and abundance, residents and traditional leaders turned the town into a sea of elegance and spiritual harmony.
During the procession, traditional drummers and singers filled the air with sounds and beats, while participants danced and expressed joy and gratitude for prosperity, while also clamouring for more.
With Alhaja (Chief) Mrs. Ashake Adenike Wahab, the Iya – Oloja General, Igbogbo, carrying the sacred Aje Oloja symbol at the point of convergence, and after a traditional prayer session for wealth, progress and unity in Igbogbo, the procession made its way through Oba Omolaja Way, had brief stopover at various junctions -Igbe, Oba Kasali Street, Surulere Estate, Oseni, Basorun, Meri and the Igbogbo night market where procession was conducted round and it finally berthed at the Adeboruwa palace where the royal father and the Odofin of Igbogbo offered special prayers.
Oba Kasali, in his royal speech, said that the reformed and expanded festival is being used to bring residents of Igbogbo, together and ensure peace and preprity.
“We have been doing this Aje Oloja festival from time immemorial, but we are expanding it to bring everybody together, promote unity and cooperation among traders, and bring prosperity to Igbogbo and also give thanks to God.
“From time, traditional rituals are to bring peace, unity and prosperity and this we are doing is in furtherance of that. We are also promoting our culture and tradition and offer prayers for the community.
“It is our believe that the festival will bring happiness and increase trades in Igbogbo with our people making profits. It will also bring us peace and unity.
“We are also praying for Nigeria and leaders, especially those in government and leaders overseeing our markets under the headship of Chief (Mrs) Folashade Tinubu – Ojo.
The Odofin of Igbogbo, Odofin Tajudeen Alade Duduyemi Onasanya, speaking on the significance of the Aje festival, also said that it is an importance aspect of the Yoruba culture which underline the important role of commerce.
“The Aje Oloja festival is a significant event in Yoruba culture, not just in Igbogbo Kingdom. It acknowledges the importance of commerce and wealth in our community. We perform rituals to ensure prosperity and fruitful will be able to take care of our families and contribute to the community’s growth. We believe that wealth is essential for a thriving endeavors, because, it is through this that we society, and we must cherish and respect it.
“Our ancestors taught us that wealth is omnipresent, and its value is recognized across Yoruba land. We celebrate the Aje Oloja festival to honor this principle and acknowledge the role of wealth in our lives,” Odofin Onasanya explained.
At the palace, the atmosphere was filled with drumming, dancing, and cultural displays that reflected the richness of Igbogbo tradition. The celebration concluded with traditional dances and prayers, reaffirming Igbogbo’s enduring connection to its cultural and spiritual roots.
Among eminent guests at the celebration were Omo’ba Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun, Executive Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Chief (Mrs) Karimot Jokotade Ojikutu , the Iyalode of Igbogbo, Deaconess (Chief) Mrs Busola Isikalu, the Iyaloja General, Ikorodu Division Hon. (Prince) Jimoh Adeleye Ogunmuyiwa, Babaloja- General of Igbogbo, traditional chiefs and other guests.
