From Jimoh Ahmed, Owo
The 2023 edition of the annual Igogo festival in Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government of Ondo State which kicked off with the first Upeli procession on September 1, 2023 is getting to its climax, as the Olowo of Owo, Oba (Dr) Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, will tomorrow, Sunday dance round the town as part of the activities marking the festival.
The Upeli procession was performed on three occasions with the Iloro Chiefs, classed in white attires and beads, both on their ankles and neck filed up in a single line to the Ugha Eduma, at the Olowo’s palace where prayers are said for the town, the people of Owo, Ondo State and Nigeria in general.
The third procession also signalled the coming out of the Ugbama of Iloro Quarters, who came out with their white helmets, long white staffs, animal horns and gongs, as they also perform their traditional rites.
Some of the rites that have taken place, so far, are the Utegin, Uyanna and Ugbate.
All the traditional chiefs in the town today danced round the town, in their Igogo traditional attires.
Meanwhile, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, will come tomorrow, Sunday, to dance round the town in company of his retinue of chiefs, especially from the Iloro quarters of the town.
Igogo, an age long festival in Owo, having started over 800 years ago, is an annual event which is centred on the wife of the monarch, Oroshen.
The festival could not hold last year as a result of the June 5 massacre of harmless parishioners of the Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa Street, Owo, when the Olowo declared that it should be put on hold as a mark of respect to the those who died in the terrorists attack and other victims.
