Ogidi community in Ijumu LGA of Kogi state came alive in a colourful display recently during its 2019 New Yam festival that attracted dignitaries from far and near. SALIFU OYIBO writes.
Ogidi is a community with an average population of over 15,000 people located in Ijumu local government area of Kogi state.
History has it that the people of Ogidi, at the beginning of the harvest season, especially June 15 every year, celebrate the New Yam Festival. Before then, tradition forbids any member of the community from eating new yam or even bring it from the farm.
Yam, according to sources, takes prime position among all crops in Ogidi where the people are predominantly farmers and hunters.
Apparently, the cultural festival which was modernised in 2012 has continued to record improvements especially in the areas of organisation, turnout of guests, cultural performances and the costumes used by troupes that graced the festival from other states like Edo, Ekiti , Ondo and Lagos states.
The 2019 Ogidi festival was well-attended by sons and daughters of Ogidi, cultural troupes and enthusiasts, foreign tourists, sons and daughters of Okunland, traditional rulers and most importantly the Netherland ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Marion Kappeyne, who is a lover of culture. He came to the community through the Yeye Oba of Ogidi and curator of Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Okundaye, to grace the occasion and savor the Ogidi Day celebration which has assumed an international status over the years.
The arrival of Ologidi of Ogidi, Alhaji Rabiu Oladimeji Sule and his entourage to the venue of the festival around 10a.m, signaled the commencement of the event as the monarch was ushered into the venue by masquerades in company of traditional chiefs, subjects, associates and his two wives.
Shortly after the opening prayers in Christianity and Islam, the director general of the planning committee, Mr Tunde Ipinmisho, urged guests and dignitaries to relax and enjoy the best of culture, assuring that there would be no dull moment throughout the festival.
He pointed out that Ogidi community is not the most populous or rich in terms of wealth, but its rich culture and the annual festival have placed the community on a global map.
According to him, the story of Ogidi Day is synonymous with a humble beginning which, he noted in excitement, has now become an international event.
Why Ogidi Day?
While explaining the essence of the day, he said, “The Ogidi festival is about two things: one, it is about our new yam. June 15 of every year is marked as our New Yam Festival. So, we now decided that if June 15 falls on a Saturday, we will hold the Ogidi Day on that date, but if not, we will hold it the next Saturday.
“The essence of the New Yam Festival is to offer thanksgiving to the Almighty who gives the increase. It is the Almighty who gives the yield. In those days, what our people were doing was to bring their farming implements and put in a corner of a room and then they will cook food and keep it there.
“They were of the belief that the hoes and cutlasses too should eat. That practice is archaic now because we know that there is only one God and it is the Almighty that brings the increase.
“Secondly, it is about our Oba. The Oba is the symbol of our oneness as a community, so we use the occasion to renew our allegiance.
“Not many people come here except they have something doing. So, we felt we could use the festival to bring attention to Ogidi”.
He commended all the traditional rulers especially the Ohimege of Koton-Karfe kingdom who graced the occasion for the first time since its commencement several years ago.
Goodwill messages
In his address, the president of Ogidi Development Union (ODU), Mr Kayode Eniolorunda, said there is no doubt the Ogidi Day cerebration has become an enduring institution that all bonafide elites of the community are proud of. He therefore urged everyone to join hands with them to strengthen the institution.
“To this end, I request some of us that are truly elites of this community to come on board for the sake of this day.
“I am convinced that we have confronted the challenges facing the community in recent times as we don’t have any alternative community we can call ours. I am assuring you that if we keep our faith in God, we will continue to deliver Ogidi Day. This is because the house has been built on a solid rock,” he concluded.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Ohimege Igu of Koton-Karfe, Alhaji Abdulrazak Isah Koto, described the festival as spectacular and a world standard.
“There is nothing like this anywhere in the country most especially now that tourism is more than crude oil. I want to encourage sons and daughters of Ogidi community to bear in mind that this is what they have and as such should protect, nurture and preserve it for children yet unborn.
“We should not do anything that will impede on the standard of this culture. I have been hearing about Ogidi festival and my presence here today will go a long way to tell the world what I have seen. We should encourage this community because this platform is not only about yam festival but about Ogidi people,” the monarch advised.
The royal father appealed to the state government to intervene in any platform that would promote culture and tourism, saying that the festival, if well supported, can go places and also bring people together as one entity.
Commenting on the festival, Ambassador Kappeyne who was overwhelmed by the cultural dance and the various beautiful costumes averred that the function of culture is the preservation of pride.
“I will go back to my country in Netherland to give vivid information on how cultural lyrics are being practised here in this community so that many of my people can come here to watch your rich and super culture.
“What I am seeing here today is very special, Ogidi people have a very rich culture and they were expressing it and teaching it. Chief Nike Okundaye has been doing a wonderful job in keeping the culture and giving the culture to younger people to keep it safe.
“Coming here, I saw very rich green field that will be suitable for agriculture. My country is a specialist in the field of agriculture and we want to help this community to put the land into use in the area of agriculture to develop this community and the country at large,” the ambassador promised.
Oba Sule, in his royal remark, said the purpose of the new yam cerebration is to appreciate the Almighty who made it possible for the yam seedlings to become whole yam.
The monarch added that since the commencement of Ogidi Day cerebration, Mr Ipinmisho has done a lot for the community. He therefore urged sons and daughters of the land to contribute their quota towards the development of the community.
“Ogidi is our home, we should all come together as one indivisible entity to build and develop the town for peace and prosperity,” he advised.
Also speaking, Ambassador Wale Ojo Lanre who is the director general, Ekiti State Art and Culture, said Ogidi, in terms of adherence to culture, is the most formidable community in the entire state.
“As a tourism journalist, I used to come here all the way from Ibadan to attend the festival in the last three years which shows that the festival meant a lot to me . The way the day is cerebrated is unique and can attracted a lot of people outside the state.
“The festival has becomes a source of empowerment and investment because the organisers has been using the festival to develop the community.”
