The age grades
•This & cover Picture credit: Zara Onyinye facebook
By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
It was all steeze and glamour on display hours – long in the unique characteristic of the Ijebu people in Ogun State, Southwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria, on Sunday as they celebrated the 2025 edition of the Ojude Oba cultural festival depicting class and elegance.
•Farooq Oreagba on horseback
•Picture : Zara Onyinye facebook
Palpably excited cancer survivor, Farooq Oreagba ,was the king of Steeze during the 2024 Ojude Oba as he caught the attention of the whole world with power dressing, panache and style. He appeared to have repeated the same feat this year but the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, seemed to have taken the shine this time with his stylish dress depicting class, culture and colour. The duo brought more glamour and taste to this year’s Ojude Oba.
•Gov Dapo Abiodun
The over a century old festival which also unapologetically advertises accomplishment, enterprising spirit, unity and religious harmony of the Ijebu people, has continued to be a huge rallying point for them with their revered Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Ogbagba11 as the embodiment of what this unique ethnic group is in Nigeria.
The Oba Sikiru Adetona pavilion in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu Ode local government area of the state, the venue of the festival beamed with pulsating kaleidescope of gorgeously dressed sons and daughters spread across scores of echelon of age grades called regberegbe, who took turn amid rhythmic dance steps to pay homage to Oba Adetona, who is often refered to as Orisa Ijebu(the god or Oracle of Ijebu).
Seated in the Pavilion were the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, some members of the state executive council, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland; chief Sunny Kuku, captains of industries, and most especially the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musawa, who emphasized the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to position Nigeria as the greatest black nation on earth through her rich cultural heritage
An estimated 25,000 people, including friends, tourists and well-wishers, participated physically and terrestrially in the festival comparable in stature and pageantry to the Rio Dejenero Carnival of Brazil or the Nottinghamhill Gate Carnival in London.
As early as 9am on June 8, the mini stadium like – arcade built by the Ijebu people for the festival had begun to witness massive influx of celebrants of various age grades, peaking at noon time with more of them and spectators spilling into the appian Awujale archway, Folagbade street and the adjoining ones as well as the Itoro Headquarters of Ijebu – Ode Local Government Council.
Wherever one turned, it was the sight and sound of drum beats by Ijebus in festive mood. Itinerant local drummers and entertainers in their various groups entertained guests for no fixed price.
By 10: am, the regberegbes began to take turn to pay homage to the Awujale, Oba Adetona, who equally poured his highly sought after royal blessings upon them liberally. This year, the nonagenarian monarch was absent but was represented by his wife, Olori Kemi Adetona. 
But the the vibrant colours and carnival in Ojude – Oba took an equestrian dimension with the gallant parade of the Baloguns and Eleshins in Ijebuland. These are the descendants of Ijebu war heroes and horse riders, who executed wars and gained major victories for the ethnic group during the war – torn era of the yoruba history.
Among them are Balogun Odunnuga, Balogun Bello Odueyungbo Kuku, Balogun Agboola Alausa, Balogun Alatishe, Balogun Otubu, Balogun Adesoye, Balogun Odejayi, Balogun Adesoye Onasanya, Balogun Towobola, Balogun Aregbesola and Balogun Ajibike Odedina.
Others are Balogun Sarunmi, Balogun Areagba, Eleshin Keregbetu family, Eleshin Oyewole family and Eleshin Josi family – they all took turn to ride triumphantly into the Pavilion on horse back in the fashion of soldiers returning from a successful military campaign.
This colourful procession of the baloguns and eleshins was accompanied by a staccato booming of dane guns.
The Ojude – Oba which was previously a muslim religious affairs in Yorubaland, took a firm root in Ijebu with the settlement of the first convert to Islam in Ijebu Ode during the reign of Awujale Adesimbo Tunwase around 1889. And during this period and up to the time of Oba Adeona Fusigboye (1906), horse ridding was not part of it.
However, horse riding seeped into it during the reign of the duo of Oba Adenuga Folagbade and Oba Adesanya, and took a glamorous dimension when Oba Sikiru Adetona came to the throne over six decades now, driving the festival to national and international recognitions.
This year, many of the horse riders displayed their expertise to the excitement of all. It is now being suggested by many notable Ijebu sons that in future, enough time should be given to the horse riders to display their prowess.
The Ojude Oba is also yearly attracting tourists from all walks of life. This year’s edition impacted positively on the socio – economic fortune of Ijebuland.
Hospitality business boomed while the celebration lasted. An estimated over N100million business opportunities turned up as caterers, printers, rentals, artists, hoteliers, transporters, tailors, hawkers of souvenirs among others made brisk business while corporate organisations like Globacom used the avenue to stamp its products and services deeper into the consciousness of the people, especially the grassroots.
Speaking at the celebration, the Minister, Musawa hailed the carnival, and expressed the federal government’s determination to collaborate with the Ogun state government to harness and develop its tourism sector to boost jobs creation, spark economic expansion and fast – track national prosperity.
She also commendedd the Ijebu people for sustaining the cultural festival that unifies them, even as she lauded the Awujale for his commitment to preserving this Ijebu heritage for future generation.
Musawa said, “President Bola Tinubu is strongly committed to making us the greatest black nation on earth, to making us one of the strongest economies. One of the ways he wants to do it is for us to leverage and tap into the opportunities that’s abound in the cultural and creative landscape.
“Recently, President Bola Tinubu announced a collaboration between the federal and sub nationals whereby we will do a collaboration and partnership so that… we will also work with the private sector to tap into the unique peculiarities of every single state.
“We can increase our visibility, we can bring job creation by looking at what the culture and tradition have to offer.This culture is your ideal, it’s your tradition, it’s who we are as a people and we are extremely proud.
“This is a beautiful culture. This is a culture that we must continue to export and use as a form of economic expansion
“For me as a Nigerian, I’m proud to be part of this community. I feel honoured to be here and I am looking forward to enacting that important vision that President Bola Tinubu has by tapping into the rich resource of Ogun State.”
Also speaking, Governor Dapo Abiodun said that Ojude Oba has grown beyond just a festival but a living heritage, a catalyst for economic growth and a platform which help to promote national unity despite the country’s diversity.
He said, “Ojude Oba is more than a festival, it is a living heritage, it connects us to our roots and offers direction for rapidly changing world. In an era marked by social fragmentations, this festival stands as flagship symbol of communal harmony where religion, tradition and modernity coexist beautifully under a shared identity.
“From the beautiful parade of the Regberegbe to the majestic display of the horse riders, Ojude Oba festival is a vibrant display of our beautiful culture, our pride, values and our continuity.”
Dignitaries that graced this year’s celebration included the governor of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa represented by his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, ex – governor of Ogun state and Senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, Senator representing Ogun Central, Shuaib Salisu and the deputy governor, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele
Others were the wife of the state governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, the Asiwaju of Ijebu land and Chairman of Rite Foods, Alhaji Sulaiman Adegunwa, Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, Dr Sunny Kuku and Speaker of the state assembly, Daisi Elemide.
As was the case in 2024, the festival also drew the presence of former governor of the State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba this year
