UDIROKO FESTIVAL WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE BRINGS HRH OBA (DR) RUFUS ADEYEMO ADEJUGBE ALADESANMI 111 TO LAGOS AFTER 28 YEARS

HRH Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi 111(2nd left) Others are: left, Chairman of the occasion, Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi; Olori Abosede Adejugbe Aladesanmi; Sen. Fatimat Raji Rasaki at the 2019 Udiroko Festival world press conference held at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday.

Royalty came to town yesterday and the drums beat endlessly. The songs were indigenous and so were the dance steps. One could not help being proud to be an Africa as the rich beauty of culture and tradition overwhelmed the atmosphere.

His Royal Highness Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi 111 (CON, JP) The Ewi of Ado Ekiti came to town and Lagos stood still as illustrious sons and daughters of the state turned up at popular Airport Hotel in Ikeja, to receive their King and his Olori, Her Royal Majesty Olori Bosede Adejugbe Aladesanmi 111, The Eyesorun of Ado Ekiti.   

Speaking on why he is in Lagos, His Royal Highness said he is here to visit his sons and daughters after having tried to do so with no avail since the last 28 years! But more importantly, he is here with his subjects, his people all the way from Ado Ekiti, to showcase the up-coming Udiroko Festival to the world through the press and to invite the world to 2019 Udiroko festival which comes up between August 12 to August 20 this month.

Components of the festival were exhibited at the Press Conference which according to Mr Wale Ojo-Lanre the Director General of Ekiti State Council of Arts and Culture, is fully supported by the State Governor. This according to him is because, the state government wants the festival to become self sustaining and involve Ado Ekiti indigenes at home and on the Diaspora. “We have noticed the energy and vigour with which the Ewi and the people of Ado prepare and celebrate Udiroko annually.”

The monarch took time to clarify the difference between Udiroko festival and others. Said he, “the festival has nothing to do with rituals, fetishism and idolism, as it usually starts with Jumat Service on Friday which immediately precedes the first day event of the week long celebrations… And it also ends with a church thanksgiving service and rotated among the various churches in Ado Ekiti.”  

Students from higher learning institutions in Edo Ekiti were there with a dance and drama performance to thrill the audience and also tell the story of the festival. Also there was the state’s troupe whose dance performance was very beholding.

Among top Ekiti state sons and daughters that received His Royal Highness in Lagos was, the former Minister of Health and Social Services and Past Group Chairman of Oodua Investment conglomerate, Prince Adewale Adelusi-Adeluyi, who was also the Chairman of the World Press event; Senator Mrs. Raji Rasaki, the Council of Chiefs, the President of Ado Ekiti Progressive Union Engr. Chief Ayo Ayoola, Sola Eleshin, Chairman APC Ekiti state; Chief Mrs. Abileke Adeola; Members of the Dynamic Club of Ekiti, High Chief Sunday Akindele; Member, Federal House of Reps. Hon Shola Fatoba and a host of others.