The annual celebration of Ode festival in Oye-Ekiti was concluded on Saturday with a visit to Odo Ule, the newly designated forest where the women , men , youths and Ejio group celebrated and offered prayers for the development of the community.
The Obalodo of Oye Kingdom, Chief Bamitale Oguntoyinbo who is the chief priest of the festival led people to the forest after which they returned to home and offered another set of prayers.
The celebration was transformed to a funfair as some men dressed in women attires while the women group called “Obinrin Ile” beat local drum and Indigenes were dancing and drinking palm wine to entertain themselves.
The Ejio group equally sang various traditional songs with buffalo horns, talking bell and drums to add glamour to the event.
Addressing the gathering, the Obalodo of Oye Kingdom, Chief Bamitale Oguntoyinbo said he decided to celebrate the 2025 Ode festival in grand style as part of efforts to bring together the sons and daughters of the town.
He explained that the festival was celebrated 30 years ago during the reign of the late Obalodo, Chief Alonge Oguntoyinbo.
The new Obalodo thanked his people of both old and the young for participating actively in the festival and also for embracing peace which led to the success of a week long festival.
“We are grateful to God for his support, I want to thank indigenes and residents of Oye-Ekiti for their active participation.
“Ode Festival has never being celebrated with lots of funfair for the past 30 years.
“The newly established shrine for the Ode festival was set up, we prayed and celebrated there, both old and young ones participated and It was very peaceful.
“For the past seven days since we started the festival activities, it has been period of joy and happiness for every Indigenes of Oye Kingdom.
“We are very happy and thankful to God, that we did not record any form of accident, this year’s festival is a preparatory activities, it will be more elaborate in 2026 edition,” he said.
Chief Oguntoyinbo, however appealed to the natives of the town to continue to work for the development of Oye Ekiti.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the security agencies such as the Military officers and Nigerian Police were on standby to curb thugs and hoodlums from hijacking the festival celebrations.
The Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) were also available to control movement of vehicles on the major roads as the Ejio group ,women and youths were dancing around the town.
