The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has launched an annual heritage and homecoming event called the "Oyo Empire Day Celebration" to bring together people of Oyo ancestry worldwide. This three-day cultural event will take place annually on the third Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of December. The maiden edition, scheduled for this year, is expected to draw an average daily attendance of 20,000 people in Oyo town.
According to Chairman of the Central Working Committee (CWC) for the celebration, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, the initiative aims to preserve history, promote cultural education, and foster socio-economic integration. The event will cover people and lineages linked to the old Oyo Empire across several states in Nigeria and countries such as the Republic of Benin and Togo. Ogunmola stated that the celebration will provide an opportunity for people of Oyo ancestry to reconnect with their heritage and ancestral homeland.
The Oyo Empire Day Celebration will feature various activities, including a grand carnival procession, Gelede performances, Egungun dances, and horse riding. A physical replica of the ancient Oyo-Ile capital will be mounted in the palace complex throughout the festival. The event will also include scholarship programs, youth activities, and historical theatre, such as the classic epic drama Ajagunla by the late Duro Ladipo.
Dr. Ogunmola emphasized that the celebration is distinct from local municipal festivals and does not aim to subsume the local identities of participating communities. He clarified that Oyo Empire Day is not an Oyo Atiba celebration, but rather a broader initiative to unite people of Oyo ancestry. The CWC Chairman also disclosed that over 100 ancestral family compounds in the ancient city of Oyo have been sensitized to welcome returning relatives.
To assist visitors in locating their historical roots, a large identification map displaying the names and locations of ancestral compounds will be erected at the entrance of the Alaafin's Palace. The celebration will culminate on Day Three with a grand royal and cultural parade at the Durbar Stadium. Side attractions include the Amala Oyo Pavilion, visits to traditional Aso Ofi weaving sites, and guided historical excursions.
Addressing the broader national and non-partisan scope of the vision, Ogunmola declared that Oyo Empire Day is not a political rally and is non-partisan. He stressed that the event is about heritage, identity, scholarship, reconnection, and development, rather than recreating the Oyo Empire as a political entity or competing with other Yoruba festivals.
The Oyo Empire Day Celebration is expected to strengthen ties among communities and individuals connected to the historical Oyo Empire. The event will provide a platform for people to reconnect with their roots, celebrate their shared heritage, and look towards the future. With its focus on cultural preservation and education, the celebration is poised to become a significant annual event for people of Oyo ancestry worldwide.
Key points
- The Alaafin of Oyo institutes annual Oyo Empire Day to unite people of Oyo ancestry.
- The maiden edition of the three-day cultural event is scheduled for December.
- The event aims to preserve history, promote cultural education, and foster socio-economic integration.
