The Ooni of Ile Ife, Oba Eniitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II is officially set to install Princess (Dr.) Toyin Kolade as the Iyalaje of Oodua Race on the 17th of July, 2021 in Ile Ife, Osun State.
A statement made available to PMParrot on Monday by the Secretary of the Iyalaje Oodua Installation Committee, Yera Moses Olafare indicated that plans are in the top gear for the official Installation ceremony of the Ijesa-born international business woman by the Ooni of Ile Ife himself on Saturday, the 17th of July 2021 at the Ile Oodua Palace Of The Ooni Of Ife in Ile-Ife which is the cradle of mankind and traditional headquarters of the entire Oduduwa Race worldwide.
Olafare in his statement revealed that, “AJE, the mother of Edagiiri, Ele and Ere is being worshiped and celebrated daily as the deity of wealth and profitability of trade. He noted that the first Apate Oja (market trader) who was among the 401 Irunmoles (gods and goddesses) like Oduduwa, Oranfe, Obatala, Orunmila, Ogun, Osun, Olokun and the rest seconded by the Almighty Olodumare (God) to the earth to pioneer the first dynasty of mankind is known as Ife Oodaye”.
He added that “AJE as the first world’s trader and custodian of markets pioneered commercial activities at the first marketplace then known as Oja Ejigbomekun which is today called Oja Ife in Ile-Ife, where trade by barter system; type of trade that involves the exchange of goods and services without the use of money as a medium of exchange were first practiced before it was replaced by Shell Money System (Cowries) as a medium of exchange for people to buy and sell products and services”.
Olafare further explained “that even though the Currency system (paper and coin) as a monetary exchange system has finally replaced both Trade by Barter and Shell (Cowries) System, that Cowries are still being treasured by Africans and different aboriginal races around the world, in appreciation of the sacred spirituality of Aje; the global goddess of wealth, market profitability and economic prosperity”.
According to the Secretary of the Installation Committee, “the beneficiary of the Iyalaje Oodua Chieftaincy Title, Princess (Dr.) Toyin Kolade is an Ijesa-born International Business Woman who has distinguished herself with a superlative performance as the Global Coordinator of the Annual Aje Festival which she has been organising annually with outstanding successes in the last five years”.
Olafare also commended her for her forthright and unquantifiable efforts towards the promotion of cultural activities in Ile Ife in Osun State and Yorubaland in general. Most especially, “her immeasurable contributions towards the revival of the ancient Aje festival which has today gained tremendous global recognition cannot be wished away”.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
