The need to sustain cultural and traditional heritage has been emphasized.
The call came to bear at the celebration of this year’s traditional age grade festival “Egbongi” held every four years in Imeri, Ose local government area of Ondo State.
The Onimeri of Imeri, His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Adeniran, Agbadero I, commended the set celebrating this year’s edition and urged others upcoming to emulate their virtues.
Oba Adeniran who could not hide his joy recall the togetherness the age-long traditional celebrations had brought to the community.
The monarch used the medium to offer prayers for the development of Imeri Kingdom and encourage the age grade celebrants to join in building habitable society for all ages.
Earlier, the Spokesperson of the age grade for this year’s celebration, Mr Dele Olawuyi described “Egbongi” Festival as unique and called for government’s support in subsequent celebration to promote cultural heritage.
Mr Olawuyi noted that the celebration had brought about cordial relationships between the age-grade members which would be sustained.
Eminent sons and daughters of Imeri Kingdom and other Dignitaries from all walks of life witnessed the celebration.
Historical background of Egbongi Festival:
Egbongi festival is held every four years lt is to mark the strength of the men ln the 16th 17th and 18th centuries Imeri fought communal wars amoung were Tapa (Nupe people) Aje 1 & 2 wars among others.
These wars reduced the population of Imeri greatly You now found in towns like Owo, Ute, kereku (Abeokuta), Oba, Uka-Owo among other lmeri descendants.
During the festival youth carry six logs of wood to different spots of the community.
They are accompany with songs and dance, while a man will sit on the log that was carried by the Youth.
In the past the Community had and still have 10 age groups. Each group had over one thousand men and were called lpogunmare While Oloriemade supervised all the activities of the Youths (lpogunmare) including the communal wars.
Every four years another set of Oloriemade will emerge and the Oloriemade would administer the community for 4 years, thereafter move to the Gbasapo age Group.
The group will be the Elders (Agbamare) of the community after another 4 years.
The import of the festival is to test the strength of the Youth In the community and also to demonstrate the change of community administration, a replica of Nigeria democratic system.
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