August 9, 2024, marked the beginning of the Oro Festival celebrations in Iworu Ilishan Remo, as the community gathered to kick off the festivities leading up to the main event. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, music, and dance, as the people of Iworu Kingdom came together to honor their heritage.
The Oro Festival, a centuries-old Yoruba tradition, is a revered cultural event in Iworu Kingdom, held to honor the Oro deity, believed to bring prosperity, peace, and fertility to the community. The festival is a culmination of rituals, music, dance, and feasting, and is considered a sacred occasion, steeped in tradition and heritage. The Oro Festival is significant not only for its cultural importance but also for its role in promoting unity, social cohesion, and spiritual rejuvenation among the people of Iworu and neighbouring communities.
At the forefront of the festivities was Chief Kolawole Anofiu Salami, the Olumale of Ilishan, who beamed with pride as he led the procession. The Iworu youth, in a show of solidarity, turned out en masse, their faces aglow with excitement and joy. The streets of Ilishan were transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors, as the people reveled in the rich cultural heritage of their ancestors.
The festival was marked with pomp and pageantry, as the community came together to celebrate the Oro deity. The air was filled with the sweet scent of traditional delicacies, as women and children with faces beaming with joy, scrambled around the tents, eager to catch a glimpse of the festivities.
In recognition of their contributions to the community, awards were presented to deserving individuals, including Chief Adegoke, the Olotu Ayan of Iworu Land, Mr. Bashiru Bakare, among others.
Our correspondent had the privilege of speaking with several dignitaries and important personalities present at the event, including the Onimeji of Imeji, Chairman of Iworu Youth Association, Olumale Ilishan, and Erelu Ilishan, among others.
As the day drew to a close, the people of Iworu Kingdom looked up to the sky, their hearts filled with gratitude and hope, knowing that the Oro Festival would once again be a beacon of unity and strength for generations to come.
