The New Era Foundation for Yoruba Festival and Culture Intervention has celebrated the sixth Olokun Festival, with a renewed commitment to preserving and promoting Yoruba culture and traditional heritageat Debojo Beach, Eleko, Lagos State.
It attracted members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) New Era, traditional rulers, cultural enthusiasts and other Yoruba a and daughters. President of OPC New Era, Rasak Arogundade, described the festival as a yearly gathering for celebrating Yoruba culture.
He said the festival provides an opportunity for Yoruba people to come together in prayer and thanksgiving, likening the gathering to the way Christians travel to Jerusalem and Muslims travel to Mecca for religious observances.
He further said the feast was also an avenue for people to pray for prosperity, peace and progress in their communities.
Arogundade urged members of association to remain calm, peaceful and committed to protecting Yoruba heritage and interests of their communities. Also, the Chairman, OPC New Era, Oyo State, Rotimi Olumo, said those who did not attend the celebration had missed an important cultural gathering.
Olumo emphasised that the festival was not exclusively for OPC members, but for all Yoruba people interested in celebrating and preserving their cultural heritage.
He said the gathering was also an opportunity to pray for prosperity, long life, peace and the continued progress of the Yoruba people.
Olumo prayed for the traditional rulers who participated in the festival, asking God to grant them long and peaceful reigns.
He also prayed for Arogundade, asking God to grant him good health, wisdom and strength to lead OPC New Era to greater heights.
The festival featured prayers, cultural activities and traditional observances, with several participants collecting water to take home as part of their personal spiritual and cultural practices.
Musical entertainment was provided by Ibadan-born musician Taye Currency, who thrilled participants with his performance and added colour to the celebration.
The organisers said the annual festival would continue to provide a platform for promoting Yoruba identity, cultural values, unity and peaceful coexistence.