By Kaseem Jenrade
It was a celebration galore in the ancient town of Ibise Otu as residents and indigenes of Otu in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State trooped out en masse to celebrate Otu named after Iya Otu who founded Otu town.
During the celebration,Otu indigenes accompanied their king ,the Onibise of Otu His Majesty Oba Abiodun Oyerinde Owolabi Oyekuleyin the 1st to the ancient shrine of Iya Otu which serves as the cradle of the entire people of Otu.
The epoch event had in attendance, the monarch, palace chiefs and the chief priest ‘Abore’who led others to the shrine of the goddess known as Iya Otu to perform annual sacrifices.
The 2024 Otu festival , which was the maiden edition to be observed by the Onibise of Otu,Oba Owolabi Oyekuleyin the 1st since his ascension of the throne was fun-filled and remarkable.
The Onibise, who wore a white attire with another long white wrapper tied on his shoulder cascading on his back, was elated as he displayed his dancing steps to the lyrics of ‘abiamo boja gbooro gbooro’ by traditional drummers.
While performing the sacrifice, the Chief priest, Akintola Dauda of Ebileton family, Ikolaba of Ibise Otu Chief Tijanni Orokunle and the duo of Mrs Shittu Idayat and Abiodun Awoniyi respectively took turn to offer special prayers to Iya Otu to seek for the protection of the people of Otu from the enemies and also prayed for the peace, happiness,long life and abundant blessings for the monarch, and the entire people of Otu.
Oba Owolabi Oyekuleyin the 1st, while speaking on the historical background and the significance of Iya Otu to the people of Otu, shortly after a white ram was tied and throwned into the river,explained that his great ancestors during their sojourn as hunters migrated to the spot near the river where they met a strange woman and requested for her name.She told the warriors that her name was Otu.She warmly accommodated them and treated them with affectionate love.The town was then named after her as Otu and the river was also named Otu river.
He emphasized that the spot where they saw the traces of the leg of Iya Otu last before she disappeared into the river serves as the cradle of the entire people of Otu.
Oba Oyekuleyin the 1st stressed that the empirical fact about the origin of the entire people of Otu was not complete without Otu river and Iya Otu.
The Onibise of Otu, while narrating the facts about the cognomen ‘oriki’ of Otu as ‘Ayinle Ogbon’, said it was meant to be ‘Ayile ago’ ago baba aso.
According to him, the cloth used and tied by his forefathers from shoulders through their waist to the ground depicted the beauty and richness of the generation of Otu, in which the loose cloth was what they referred to as ‘Ago’ and not stupidity.”Ayile ago,ago maja,omo oluaso”.
Oba Owolabi Oyekuleyin the 1st, reiterated that the ago cloth used by their ancestors is still relevant till today through masquerade.
The ago cloth used by Egungun in Otu land has long robe which usually referred to as Egungun alago.
The monarch used the occasion to pray for the sons and daughters of the land home and abroad and urged them not to forget their source.