The Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has debunked the erroneous belief that the Yoruba people are idol worshipers saying they only recognise them as the helpers of God but worship Olodumare, the Supreme Being.
Speaking at the press briefing to herald in the annual Olojo Festival, Oba Ogunwusi said the misconception is why most people tagged the Yorubas as idol worshipers.
“We believe that the deities are like angels that we use as conduit to the Almighty God like the Christians who pray through Jesus Christ and the Muslims, who supplicate through Mohhammad, but they are not our Olodumare, the Supreme Being,” he said.
Oba Ogunwusi further expressed that the Olojo festival is for the celebration of Olodumare, the Creator, who created the day and Ife remains the only place on earth such celebration takes place.
“We are not idol worshipers, but we are using the celebration of the festival to acknowledge and give due honour to all our deities that have contributed immensely to human existence.
“Olojo festival symbolises celebrating the first day of creation and the beginning of existence in Ile-Ife, being the cradle of the human race.
“The word “Olojo” implies reference to Olodumare, the creator and the owner of the day, and that is why Olojo festival is being celebrated in Ife Kingdom, the cradle of the Yoruba,” the monarch said.
He said Christians and Muslims celebrate Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed in due times, adding that this is also applicable to traditional worshipers.
Ogunwusi also solicited for the support of Nigerians in celebrating the festival.
“All forces of nature such as rain, sun and water among others will interact for the betterment of the day and humanity.
“We all believe and worship one God in diverse ways, Olojo festival is a day that God specially answers prayer not for Ife indigenes alone, but for all and sundry,” he stated.
Ogunwusi also commended all the corporate sponsors of the festival.
Earlier, the Secretary of the Olojo Festival Advisory Committee, Olugbenga Omiwole, had lauded the Ooni for uplifting the pillars of Yoruba tradition and cultural heritage.
Omiwole said Ogunwusi has performed beyond expectation in filling the loopholes of tradition and culture among the Yoruba.
“The work of creation of Olodumare in the creation of the world was ordered through the existential reality of time which consists of morning, afternoon and night.
“It is through this order that the work of creation progressed to establish the world we live in today.
“It is common knowledge that science and religion corroborated the fact of the story of the Bible and Qur’an respectively on the creation of the universe.
“Ile-Ife is the land of expansion and the spot where creation began.
“This led to celebrating the first day of creation annually and the essence of the celebration is to commemorate the beginning of creation,” he said.
In the same vein, Otunba Ayo Olumoko, the Chief Festival Administrator added that many sponsors have partnered the festival to make it more glamourous this year. Sponsors like Nigeria Breweries Plc, makers of Goldberg beer, Grand Oak Distillers, makers of Seaman Aromatic Shinapp, MTN Nigeria and Adron Homes.
The festival is expected to begin with the Gbajure Cultural Carnival on September 18 while the grand finale will hold on September 30 with the Ooni wearing the traditional Are crown which is worn once in a year.
The closing ceremony holds on October 1 with traditional trade and exhibitions.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi who was in Ile-Ife
