Ekiti marks historic Atapo Olomo festival in style

Oore of Otun prays for prosperity

By Samuel Ogunsona

Oore, a prominent traditional ruler in Ekiti State has led his Moba people in marking the historic Atapo Olomo festival.

Oore leads the ancient town of Otun Ekiti, headquarters of Moba Local Government Area Government in Ekiti State.

The festival came alive beginning from last weekend with many visitors from across the world.

The Oore of Otun, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, was the centerpiece of the celebration, with the sacred Ade Ero crown on his head which symbolizes the paramount crown of Mobaland.

Thousands of residents flocked the festivities, seeking blessings and prosperity.

The Oore, as the Chief Priest, led the rituals with grace and spirituality, moving to the rhythms of the ancient Oloris in the Palace.

Oore played a critical role in Yoruba history having hosted the first meeting of Ekiti Generals in 17th century prelude to the Kiriji War that came after.

The meeting held at Otun led to the formation of the first battalion of Ekiti soldiers said to be in the range of 10,000 men, mainly of infantry division.

The ceremony unfolded with the Oore appearing in a second crown, proceeding to the Okelebo shrine, where he slaughtered a ram as traditional rites, offering prayers simultaneously.

During the rituals, Oba Adeagbo, sought fruitfulness, prosperity, and success for Otun Ekiti, Mobaland, Ekiti State, and Nigeria, with special blessings for Otun Ekiti indigenes worldwide.

Concluding the ritual, the Oore danced before retiring to the inner chambers of the ancient palace.

The Atapo Olomo Festival 2024 was a testament to Yoruba rich cultural heritage, showcasing tradition, spirituality, and community unity.

However, the Otun like every other ancient town in Yorubaland has it own myth of origin and tradition.

According to different sources of history, Irohinodua learnt that the Oore emerged from the Okun Moba (Moba Sea) in Lagos with a Golden Jug (Ago Ide) containing water in his hand, beads around his neck and a beaded crown on his head.

It is also a fact that Oore, had settled in different places at different times, starting from Moba near Mushin in Lagos and passing through Ile-Ife before they finally settled at their present location.

Some of the places they passed through after Ile-Ife included Akure, Oke Olodun and Ipole before moving to the present site over 400 years ago.

Other sources revealed that Oore has his origin from lle-Ife like all other Yoruba ethnic groupings before migrating through the above stated routes to the present site.

Whichever source may be right, the incontrovertible fact of history is that Oore at one time or the other was at lle Ife and had a very strong relationship with Oduduwa, the father of Yorubas. All authorities, both oral tradition and written sources confirm this relationship.

In fact, the relationship between them was a special one, transcending that of father and son relationship.
History has it that at a time during his stay at Ile-Ife, Oduduwa mysteriously went blind and efforts to restore his sight proved abortive.

It was the Oore who took part of the water brought from Okun Moba to wash the eyes of Oduduwa before his sight was restored. This feat performed by Oore endeared him to Oduduwa to the extent that he called him “Oloore mi” (meaning my benefactor).

This, according to history was how Oore derived his name. That special relationship has subsisted between Oore an Ooni up till the present day. For instance whenever the Ooni passes on (dies), the first Oba in Yoruba land to whom the information must be passed is the Oore who in turn announces the demise of Ooni to other Yoruba Obas.
Furthermore, before a new Ooni can be installed, certain traditional rites must be performed to invoke the spirit of four (4) very ancient Obas in Yorubaland. The Oore is one of them.

The pre-eminence of Oore among Yoruba Obas was further attested to by the fact that between 1578 and 1608, Otun was made the boundary between the Old Oyo Empire and the Kingdom already established by Oranmiyan in present day Edo State.

This was as a result of the peace treaty, which the Oba of Benin, himself descendant of Oranmiyan, entered into with the Alafin of Oyo.

During this period, most of the present day Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos States came under Oranmiyan rule while the Old Oyo Empire had control over most of the Northern and Western Yoruba land as well as part of the non-Yoruba speaking neighbours like Nupe, Ibariba and Aja in Dahomey.

Throughout this period, either Benin or Oyo Empire never conquered Otun. This was as a result of the status of the Oore of Otun and Otun came to be regarded as a neutral ground where people from both sides settled amicably.

As a result of this, Otun became a bursting centre of commercial activities, which drew people from both kingdoms and from many other parts of the present day Nigeria and beyond.

PhotoCredit: John Odunayo, newsevent