It was a moment of joy and undiluted happiness as people of Iloko-Ijesa trooped out en masse and gathered at the Palace of His Majesty, Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe, the Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa kingdom, to celebrate the annual 2024 New Yam Festival.
For the people of Iloko-Ijesa, the New Yam festival is a tradition and long-standing social custom that has been in existence since the creation of the town. The festival reminds people, particularly the young, that there is prosperity in hard work, and every youth must feed from the labor of his or her hands.
When WITHIN NIGERIA arrived at the palace of Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa, some youths had stationed a local charcoal stove to roast some pieces of yam. Kids within age brackets of 5–12 were seen eating roasted yam pieces that had been sliced by the youths who were in charge. As this reporter moved around the town before the grand finale, he sensed responsibility, equal participation, and devotion in every indigene of the town.
The Logan of Iloko-Ijesa, Chief Odeyemi Lawrence Kehinde, told WITHIN NIGERIA that the festival is a practice that was inherited from the forebears of the town.
According to Chief Odeyemi, the festival has no religious tag because it reminds us of the hardworking spirit of our forebears.
“Our forefathers were not lazy people. They are very hardworking, resilient, and strong-willed. The major purpose of this festival is to boost productivity and encourage youths in our community to engage diligently in farming, Odeyemi further stated.
As this reporter entered the palace, he observed a high table in front of a royal chair reserved for Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe, the Owaloko of the Iloko-Ijesa kingdom. On this big table lie different varieties of food made from yam, which have been prepared for a specific purpose during the festival. Some indigenes had occupied chairs neatly arranged under tents as they waited for the arrival of the monarch.
At exactly 12:00 p.m., the program kicked off after Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe had occupied the royal seat reserved for him.
His eminent, the very Reverend S.K. Oniyinde, the leader and camp coordinator of the Methodist Church, Iloko-Ijesa chapter, showered prayers on attendees. He commended Oba Ogungbangbe for being a tolerant and accommodating king.
The chairman of the organizing committee, Comrade Olorunfemi Olatunji, better known as Awoko, while appreciating the king for his support and opportunity to serve, thanked the people for coming out to grace the New Yam festival.
He also assured the people that there’s an adequate plan on the ground to make this year’s festival memorable.
Olatunji, who could not hide his excitement, thanked the people, especially the youths, for participating actively in this year’s festival.
Mr. Akinola, a teacher of Yoruba language at the Iloko Model College who doubles as the master of ceremonies, asked the people to stand up and recite the Iloko-Ijesa anthem. They sang it with passion and poured their hearts into it.
After the recitation of the Iloko-Ijesa anthem, high chiefs led by Chief Sawe paid homage to the king. They showered prayers on the king, the people, and the community. Female indigenes, led by Iya Logan, paid homage to the king. Iya Logan jumped up three times and bowed alongside other women to the king.
Logan of Iloko-Ijesa, Chief Odeyemi, also led male indigenes to pay homage to the king. Logan and two male indigenes carried cutlasses and saluted the king. The leader, Logan, later reached out his cutlass to the king, who touched it. In unison, they hailed the king and prayed for him. They now danced joyfully to their seats. It was delightful to watch.
The Aworo of Iloko-Ijesa, Odelusi Kehinde, commended Oba Akeem Ogungbangbe for sailing the ship of the town to higher prosperity within his three years of reign.
Chief Odelusi, while highlighting the importance of the New Yam festival, prayed for the monarch and the entire community.
He also commended the organizing committee for their efforts in ensuring the success of the festival.
“Every single yam here is a product of our children’s agricultural labor in this town. Without this festival, our beloved royal father and leader cannot consume yam or any of its variants. In fact, indigenous people are not allowed to eat yam. I say a big thank you to them,” Chief Odelusi added.
Prince Bayo Ogungbangbe, Commissioner for Cooperatives and Empowerment in Osun, commended the people for trooping out en masse to celebrate this year’s festival in his speech.
He thanked the people of Iloko-Ijesa for supporting the monarch and, in extension, the administration of his principal, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
Prince Ogungbangbe disclosed that the public health facility in the town is currently undergoing intensive rehabilitation and would be suitable for the use of the people.
While canvassing for more support for Senator Ademola Adeleke, he argued that his principal has brought relief to the people through regular payment of salaries, pensions, and quality health insurance, among others.
There was an uproar and huge excitement from the people after his Royal Majesty, the Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa, Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe, was invited to the podium. The interlude birthed by the master of ceremonies and musician did not help matters either. It was indeed a joyous one.
Oba Ogungbangbe appreciated guests for gracing the event. He recognized invited guests, community leaders,, community leaders, and religious leaders, among others.
The monarch later approached the high table and unveiled a variety of yam dishes, including boiled yam, roasted yam, ojojo, and asaro. A chief opened a bottle of Seaman (a traditional drink for prayers), poured cup,little into a small cup, and handed it over to the king.
The monarch, while praying for the people and community, sprinkled the alcoholic I’m the cup on the ground, and the Logan (head of youths) poured salts on the ground too.
The monarch ordered the Logan of Iloko-Ijesa (head of youths) to open all varieties of yam dishes that had been covered on the table. The king took a slice of roasted yam, inserted it inside a plate of ojojo, and showered prayers on people and the community. Kings do not eat in public. It is taboo. Oba Ogungbangbe is no doubt a thoroughbred royal. He turned his back immediately and inserted a small piece of yam he had cut into his mouth.
”It was mandatory for the king to insert a small piece of yam into his mouth. It is a tradition. If the Kabiyesi did not, it simply means nobody can eat yam in the town. It is a symbol. You can also see how he handled it with extreme caution, grace, and royalty, as the Aworo of Iloko-Ijesa explained.
Immediately, when the monarch faced his people, there was a loud cry of joy, and people were seen jubilating widely. The high chiefs of the town took their turns repeating what Oba Ogungbangbe did. A group of male indigenes led by Logan followed suit. A group of female indigenes led by Yeye Logan also followed the same suit. The people also joined, and everybody ate from the same bowl. They devoured all the yam varieties on the table.
The monarch declared that every indigenous person can now eat yam and directed that every attendee be fed any yam variety they preferred, such as pounded yam, asaro, and roasted yam, among others.
In an interview session with WITHIN NIGERIA, Chief. Mrs. Rebecca Olufunke Omoniyi, the Yeyemeso of Iloko-Ijesa, and Mama Ijo of Methodist Church Nigeria, Iloko Circuit expressed her happiness and excitement about this year’s 2024 New Year festival.
Chief Omoniyi, who commended Oba Ogungbangbe for his amazing leadership skills, disclosed that she is happy because the monarch keeps promoting the festival.
According to Yeyemeso, the New Year festival is all about the celebration of hard work, diligence, and determination, which were exhibited through the cultivation of farmlands.
She further admonished the youths of the community to adopt farming as a solution to unemployment because it would improve productivity and boost food security in the town and state at large.
The Amuludun of Iloko-Ijesa, Chief Adeyemi Fasogbon, told WITHIN NIGERIA, while commending the organizers, that he expected more people to turn out for the festival.
Chief Fasogbon, who had witnessed the festival three times in a role as an adult, recounted how his father used to take him to the festival as a child, and the memory of young adults filling up the palace that kids barely feature in the exercise is still fresh.
According to Fasogbon, organizers need to step up their publicity stunt and ensure that more people attend the festival.
“Organizers should reach out to schools for participation. Most kids are not aware of this festival. The publicity needs to be intensified. A lady told me that females are not allowed at the festival. When I did my research, I discussed that it was a lie. This simply means that we need to step up both publicity and dissemination of information, Fasogbon disclosed.
While advocating for the participation of youths in farming activities, Fasogbon further disclosed that the festival is all about strengthening brotherhood and bringing people together for agricultural development.
Fasogbon, who called on the government to make farming a compulsory activity in schools, urged people, including civil servants, to embark on subsistence agriculture to feed the family and society at large.
If there’s anything this reporter admires about this festival, it is the coming together of the rich, the poor, the elite, the common, and the royal to celebrate and dine together on the same plate. As the king, chiefs, and indigenes take turns to pick a slice of yam and dip it inside a stew made with yam, it passes a message of love, strong brotherhood, admiration, and peaceful coexistence. For Iloko-Ijesa, the New Year festival is a must.