OLOFIN RE-SURFACES in Lagos as Elegba Festival takes Centre stage

In Lagos State Elegba Festival is an ancient and significant traditional event celebrated mainly by the descendants of OLOFIN ( Lagos Progenitor).

Annually Elegbara holds amidst pomp and pageantry in all the KINGDOMS ruled by Olofin's children, one of whom is Elegushi of Ikate-Land in Eti-Osa, whose present monarch is HRM Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, KUSENLA 111. Elegba Festival holds for seven days in respective Kingdoms with Monarchs celebrating with one another.

The festival commences with a very essential early morning ceremony called IKUNLEBAPI, this period, appeasements are made, prayers are offered and other traditional rites observed with Elegba devotees in attendance, plus the visiting Royal Fathers. Amongst the devotees that must be part of the IKUNLEPABI ceremony are Ikate-Elegushi white cap chiefs, Baales, Oloris, Princes and Princess from Ikate-Land and Elegba devotees mainly descendants of OLOFIN.

Items used for the prayer sessions during this ancient festival that exhibits the best of Lagos Cultural heritage are; Kolanut, water, alligator pepper, spirit, snail etc. After this necessary traditional process, consultations are made to IFA ORACLE and interpretations subsequently presented to the His Royal Majesty Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi and other eagerly waiting personalities present at the IKUNLEPABI ceremony by IFA PRIESTS. The moment the interpretations are done, rendition of prayerful songs in different styles and lyrics rendered by the devotees shall rent the air. That ends the early morning beat, after which the devotees and invited guests shall reconvene for more elaborate evening outing.

This time the all-white expansive ELEGBA GROUND in Ikate-Elegushi is filled to the brim with Lagosians, dignitaries and well-wishers that have come to watch masquerades otherwise refer to as Osa, as they perform one after the other to the admiration of ecstatic crowd present at the ceremony.

The masquerades come in different head covers, patterns and sizes. While the Osas parade last, everybody must be seated. It dances round jubilating, as well as offering prayers for the success of Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.

At every point that the masquerades retire to its CONCLAVE, female devotees form a wide round circle to sing spiritual ELEGBA SONGS to the admiration of all.

Dress Code; Clean White robe wrapped round the body with the upper region bare! Nobody is allowed to wear shoe or slippers while inside the ELEGBA GROUND! It a taboo Only First Class Obas, Balees and high chiefs are allowed to.

Eminent personalities from far and wide witnessed this year's festival including the Oloyotunji of Oyotunji Village, South Carolina, USA, HRM Oba Adejuyigbe Egunjobi Adefunmi 11, HRM Oba Idowu Abiodun Onire the revered Oniru of Iru Land Vl and environs, Oba Tijani Akinloye, SATERU11, The Ojomu of Ajiran KIngdom, Oba Elemoro, Oba of Shasa Kingdom and others including Aremo Adesegun Oniru, High Chief Dosumu, the Akinsiku of Lagos and other notable personalities in Lagos State and Nigeria.

His Royal Majesty Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi The Elegushi of Ikate Land, Kusenla 111, played a perfect host. Everything was on point, from his dress style, his beaded feet, to his Crown, walking stick and neck bead which distinguished him as a very classy Royal Monarch that makes great fashion statement.

It is distinct however, that HRM pays attention to every detail in Agbo Elegba, do we talk about the sparkling white Elegba ground or the well-construction veranda conspicuously positioned outside the gate. Everybody had fun, indeed, it was an exhibition of Lagos ancestral Heritage at its best!

The high point of the 2017 ELEGBA celebrations was the mastery Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi demonstrated in traditional dances! Elegba holds for 7days in respective kingdoms where it is being celebrated while they celebrate with themselves. Out of the 7days earmarked for the celebrations, 3 days stand out, namely, the 1st day of the festival, the third day called ITA, and the last 7th day called IJE!

Elegba festival is all about prayers, success and peaceful coexistence of the inhabitants of the kingdom hosting and its tenants. Elegba is what Easter celebrations or Eid lll kabir is to both Muslims and Christians it brings growth, success and tranquility to the KINGDOM hosting like the tremendous success being experienced in Ikate-Elegushi and his surrounding areas. All hail the KING!!! KABIYESI OOOO!

For the records;
Elegba is a deity worshipped by its devotees, hugely made up of descendants of Olofin.
The deity is everywhere, conspicuously located at distinguished junctions in communities owned by the descendants of Olofin.
Typical of such areas are Ojuelegba, Ikeja, Ipodo, Agege, Isheri, Itire Junction, Ilogbo in Apapa Road, Central Lagos, etc.
Contrary to public believe, devotees or invited guests at Elegba Fiesta do not beat themselves with canes, rather people pray, dance, celebrate that another year has rolled in.
In addition, all the traditional items distributed amongst the devotees at the Ikunlepabi Ceremony is to wade off ailments, any form of communicable diseases and disaster within the Kingdom ruled by descendants of Olofin, I.e. Ikate-Elegushi as ruled by HRM Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kushenla II, the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, Oba Idowu Abiodun Oniru and others.

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