Arigidi was once again brought to the fore of cultural promotion and development in Akokoland, Ondo State, during the 2011 edition of Okota festival.The festival afforded tourists from all over the world, the opportunity to explore the rich cultural heritage of the Akoko people.The Okota Festival enabled the Olokun Festival Foundation to take stock of effortsof the past heroes, which was the highest point of the two-day event.The festival afforded the Arigidi people them the opportunity of making brisk money from the sale of souvenirs, foods and other items, particularly to thousands of members of the Oodua People's Congress.The annual beauty pageant, that has been an important activity of Okota festival took a different direction this year.Apart from a core Yoruba contestant, winning the crown, scores of notable Yoruba actors and actresses, including: Bashir Ishola, popularly known as Oloye Ajere, Adebayo Tijani Banji Onifade (Asipa) Rasak Adewusi (Sokoti)and Monsur Obadina, among others, added glamour to the event.Idowu Blessing, a student of Ladoke Akintola University, emerged as the winner. The chief promoter of the festival, Chief Gani Adams, while speaking at the event, stated that the purpose of the festival is hinged on the common interest of bringing the site of Okota River to international recognition.He added that the festival will help to improve the quality of people's existence.The OPC chief noted that paying obeisance to Okota River is not in any way peculiar to Arigidi, insisting that Pow Mow, Thames and York Festivals in the United States of Americaare notable celebration of rivers in developed countries, Adams explained that 'Okota Festival is therefore dedicated to the preservation, protection and sharing of the culturalheritage ofArigidi with the world.'He averred that the festival, more than any other events brings the highest number of guests to the town as it brings at least '20,000 people from around the world to Arigidi to celebrate Okota River, in the way that other rivers are celebrated in Yorubaland going down memory lane, Adams stated that: 'In 2008, the first Okota festival was celebrated to showcase the cultural values of Ondo State indigenes, especially those from Arigidi and Akoko land.'Spiritually, the Okota Fetuival is held to celebrate our heritage and to pray off evil from the land.'The festival chief promoter also claimed that many people, who have attended the the previous editions have attested to the goodness of Okota in their lives.Oba Olusola Dare, the Arigbamu of Agbamu, while speaking at the occasion enjoined Yoruba sons and daughters not tosee Yoruba culture as inferior to the western culture. The monarch stated that he has been a witness to the efficacy of the water from Okota River.The guest speaker at the occasion, DrEhinmore Omolere of the Department of History and International Relations, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Ondo State, while speaking on the topic 'Culture as a key factor in national development,' stated that for any nation to develop socially, economically, technologically and politically, its cultural components must first of all be harnessed and developed especially through the celebration of indigenous history and festivals.Omolere identified the cultural components as: festivals, science, technology, language, music historyand folk wisdom,noting that the quest to develop culture becomes necessary because no nation can develop effectively outside the socio-cultural contents of its environment.'It is germane for Nigerians to rediscover, preserve and promote their creative and true cultural heritage and prevent it from genocide, extinction and use it as a catalyst for virile nation building,' the don averred.
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