Princes and Princesses from the five Soun royal families, local tourists and culture enthusiasts from Ogbomoso and other part of the world on Friday, converged at the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade, to celebrate the annual Oole Oba festival.
The festival took place under the historic Ajagbon tree, The tree under which Lorun-un-ngbekun, the wife of the first Soun of Ogbomoso, sold the then popular otika – a local alcoholic drink, over 300 years ago.
The legendary cultural event which dates back to over 300 years started during the reign of Ogundiran Ogunlola, the first Soun who reigned between 1659 and 1714.
It is a royal event in which the five Soun royal families and well wishers from Ogbomoso and beyond come together to celebrate and showcase their cultural heritage and propagate history.
Usually at the event, the monarch sits and the five royal families, together with their masquerades, march in a procession before him to pay homage and get his blessings.
During the event, the only food served at the palace is eko (pap) and oole (moin moin,) a delicacy made from beans) from which the name of the festival is derived
Dr Dhikirulahi Oyeyiola Oyelami,Mogaji of Gbagun Soun Ruling House, Ogbomoso in a chat with journalists said apart from showcasing the cultural heritage the event is also to promote Unit and recieves blessings from the monarch
” Our vision is to make this event a global event where tourists, cultural enthusiast and more visitors will be part of the event and that in turn will bring economic benefits to the Ogbomoso and its environs.
Dr Oyelami maintained that ” Its a pure cultural event, no ritual or anything is attached, its only to promote Unity and showcase our cultural heritage.
