Preparation for Iwude Festival hots up

IWUDE is a cultural and traditional festival that bringsall people of Ijesaland together in joyful mood tocelebrate their past, present and the future.Iwude festival a 30-day celebration, which gets to the peak of the fiesta this year on Saturday, December 24, 2011. On that final day, Owa Obokun Adimula comes out of his palace in the morning, moves with grandeur across a section of Ilesa city to celebrate with his people and moves back to his palace in the evening of same day for the grand finale.The traditional places usually visited for rites and exchange of gifts and offering of prayers include, Yeyerise's palace, Obaala's palace, Sawe's palace, Lejoka's palace and Salotun's palace.Iwude festival affords Owa Obokun, the opportunity to remember his ancestors, pay homage to them, offer prayers to God for peace and prosperity in Ijesaland and abundant blessings on the people.The event which is most importantly a festival of unity that is designed to unite the people of Ijesaland, among programmes of events will involve a special carnival float across all the six Local Government areas in Ijesaland.Ijesa unity soccer competition will also be staged among various secondary school students in Ijesaland. Ayo game competition will also be staged among the people of Ijesaland to encourage unity of Ijesa people.The grand finale of Iwude Festival comes up this year on Saturday, December 24, 2011. This involves cultural displays manifested in the royal regalia of Kabiyesi Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, the royal beads, royal crowns, royal umbrella, royal walking stick, royal horse tail, royal steps, royal dance as well as royal exchange of greetings with chiefs and the people.The programmes end with music, dancing and merry making at the palace ground on the evening of Saturday 24th December 2011.Festival this year by support funding and promoting festival to national and international reckoning the planning committee therefore appreciates the efforts of the New Day Nigeria Ltd through his Chief Executive Officer, Prince Adeoye Aderinwale for marketing the programme via the MTN multinational communication giant.
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