A cultural festival held on the third day after Eid-el Kabir (sallah) celebration in western Nigeria.
The famous festival started out in 1892, when the then Oba Adesumbo Tunwase offered landed properties to the Muslims for a Mosque to be built. He also offered the British missionaries the opportunity to preach Christianity in Ijebu Land as well as the land where St Saviours Italupe, the first church in Ijebu was built.
Held annually two days after Eid el-Kabir, Ojude Oba, a Yoruba festival hosted in Ijebu Ode, a town in Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria is usually well attended by over 250000 people across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, Here are 10 facts about Ojude-Oba day to know:
1. The Festival Is Always Held 2 days After Eid-El-Adha: The two days before the Ojude Oba festival is for Muslims to savour and enjoy the Eid with their families, friends, and well-wishers. On the third day, Muslims, Christians, dignitaries, tourists and even visitors, troop to the Oba Sikiru Adetona Golden Jubilee Centre to witness and experience the glamour of the festival. It is a spectacle you shouldn’t miss if you ever find yourself in Ijebu-Ode during Eid-El-Kabir Celebration.
2. Its A Religious Festival: 
Long before the Ojude-Oba festival became an all-encompassing gig, it was a small gathering of adherents and followers of the Islamic religion. Today, however, the festival has transcended religious lines and attracts people of all faiths as well as tourists from within and outside Nigeria.
Read Also: Travel: Ancient Kingdom Of Benin, 8 Taboo You Must Know When You Visit The Oba’s Palace
3. Regberegbe (Age-grades):
These are the Age-Grades that organize the Ojude-Oba day event and festival yearly. The Regberegbe are young businessmen, women, and professionals who are indigenes of Ijebu-Ode, They’re the organising committee saddled with the responsibility to source sponsorship for the Festival.
4. Horse-riding, gunshots and dance competitions: 
Horse-riding among the various horse riding families and male/female dance groups are the two things you shouldn’t miss during the festival. The different horse riding families dress their horses and exhibit their horse-riding skill to the admiration of spectators. Meanwhile, for the dance competition, men and women belonging to different age-groups called Regberegbe will display their dancing prowess. The best-dressed Regberegbe and horse-riding family will be rewarded with cash prizes. During the celebrations, there are intermittent gunshots.
5. Homage is paid to the paramount: The 100-year-old festival welcomes over 45,000 visitors amidst heavy, singing, dancing and drumming also pay homage to the paramount ruler of Ijebu-land, HRH Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba 11. Again the age-grades and the Oba’s subjects take turns to pay homage to the Awujale of Ijebu-land by presenting different foodstuffs and other items.
6. Extravagant display of culture and heritage: The aim of the Ojude-Oba is to celebrate the rich culture and heritage of the people of Ijebu Ode. This is showcased via resplendent traditional attires, deft hairstyles, cuisine (ifokore) and the reenactment of rare cultural dances which can only be watched at a festival of such magnitude.
7. Walk Parade By Age-Grades And Egbe: The walk and dance parade is usually performed by the Regberegbe with a dance competition, men and women belonging to different age-groups called Regberegbe will display their dancing prowess, they walk around the Golden Jubilee Pavillon after while paying homage to the Awujale HRH Oba Sikiru Adetona. The best-dressed Regberegbe, the best dancing family will be rewarded with cash prizes. During the celebrations, there are intermittent gunshots.
8. Beauty Pagentry: Beauty pageantries are held every year at Ojude-Oba where the winner is given a car and named Miss Ojude-Oba for a period of a year.
9. The Burning of The Masquerade {Danafojura}: A new side attraction to the event is the Danafojura that was introduced this year 2019, as a gift of performance by the Alaafin Of Oyo. The Danafojura is the “Pyro Egungun” Egungun Danafojura sets itself ablaze in epic inferno but does not get hurt. Yoruba culture and tradition at its best.
10. Sponsored By FCMB: Most world-class events and festival have not been able to stand the test of time because they are either not sponsors’ friendly or lack the content that attracts sponsorship, But for the Ojude Oba festival, this is, however, an area of strength as they have illustrious sons and daughters as well as friends from different corporate organizations that are passionately committed to the brand.
One of those is the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), which has made it an annual ritual to add glamour to the event through different promotional and sponsorship bids.
The bank as a family participates in a unique cultural tune of the festival as they also dressed up to the event with an attractive and branded “Aso-Ebi”.
“This is a way of giving back to the people and also as a person that is passionate about the culture of the Ijebu people. And as an illustrious son and prince of Ijebuland, I see my support for the event as a cultural obligation,” said the Founder of FCMB Group, Otunba Subomi Balogun.
Photo Credit: Getty
