The Obalodo of Oye Kingdom, Chief Bamitale Oguntoyinbo has appealed to youths and indigenes of Oye Kingdom to embrace the culture and traditions of the town.
Chief Oguntoyinbo appealed while addressing journalists during the opening ceremony of the Ode festival held on Sunday in Oye-Ekiti.
He explained that in the olden days, during the Ode festival, the Obalodo and the Ejio group would dance around the old Oye Kingdom, visit the Oloye palace to make sacrifices and prayers for the peace and development of the community.
Obalodo,said such a ceremony has gone into extinction because of civilisation.
He noted that the Ode festival does not involve human sacrifice or any bloodshed but a ceremony to promote culture, traditions and to educate the people about their origin.
“I want to appeal to our youths and all indigenes of Oye Kingdom to embrace the culture and traditions of Oye Kingdom.
“The culture and traditions of the community are indeed beginning to go into extinction but I will try as much as possible to restore them.
” The Ode festival that we are celebrating is what, I, Obalodo of Oye Kingdom must carry out to ensure that the peace and unity of our community is protected.
“Culture is important, Ode festival is a tradition we must protect jealously and that is why since I mounted the throne as Obalodo, I have been bringing my people together in a bid to revive our culture.
” A lot of youths have never seen the dressing of Obalodo during the festival because of the lies that some people have been spreading against the ceremony to scare the youths.
” It is because our people have neglected their culture and traditions , this is why it is easy for hoodlums to kidnap and kill a traditional Oba because he does not believe in the traditions of his community,” he said.
Chief Oguntoyinbo, however appealed to the State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji to support the traditions and culture of Oye Kingdom.
