THE RURAL NEWS ALERT

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, is set to install the new Sooko Omonigba of the Source.   A statement by Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ife Solidarity Front (ISF), Lagos, Alhaji Lateef Akinborode, said the installation would be performed on Omooba Bamikole Osuolale Adediwura of the Ojaja family, Agbedegbede Royal Compound in Giesi Ruling House of Ile-Ife.   The choice of Adediwura was apt, going by his family right, pedigree, commitment to Ile-Ife cause and a good career in the federal civil service.   The installation is billed for Saturday, June 26, 2021, at the Palace Ground, Ile Oodua, Enuwa, Ile-Ife, Osun State.   Adediwura has been a grassroots mobilizer  and current President, ISF, Lagos. culled from t.guardian.ng

 Benin City is the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is approximately 40 km (25 miles) north of the Benin River. Formerly known as Benin Kingdom, the city is one of the most ancient in the whole of Africa, standing partly as the remains of what was once a powerful and famous African Empire during the 15 th and 16 th centuries. From its rich cultural attractions and traditions to its colorful festivals and world-renowned art, here are the best things to see and do when in town. THE ROYAL PALACE OF THE OBA OF BENIN Monastery The palace, which was declared one of Nigeria‘s UNESCO Listed Heritage sites in 1999, is an architectural wonder. The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler of the Edo people, and his palace has sacred cultural significance. The palace, which is centrally situated at the heart of the city, was erected by Oba Ewedo (1255 – 1280). It was later rebuilt by Oba Eweka II (1914 – 1932) after the 1897 war. A palace visit comes with dos and don’ts as reg...

 BRIEF HISTORY OF EBONYI STATE Ebonyi State is in southeastern Nigeria. It is inhabited and populated primarily by the Igbo with the city of Abakaliki as its capital and largest city. Other major townships include Afikpo, Onueke, Ezzamgbo, Edda, Effium, Aba Omege, Amasiri, Unwana, Echara Ikwo, Egu-Ubia, Ụbụrụ, Onicha, etc. It was one of the six states created in 1996 by the then federal military government of General Sani Abacha. The State of Ebonyi was created from parts of both Enugu State and Abia State, which were the Abakaliki division from Enugu State and the Afikpo division from Abia State respectively. It has three senatorial zones, the Abakaliki division make up Ebonyi North and Ebonyi Central senatorial zones, while the Afikpo division make up the Ebonyi South senatorial zone. Ebonyi has thirteen local government areas as well as local development centres created by the state government. It is home to six prominent higher institutions of learning: Ebonyi State Universit...

  If the tribe of Isoko was a man, Urhobo would have been his twin brother. For many years and still counting, Isoko as a tribe has been deemed as one with Urhobo by most people outside the shores of Delta State. As a matter of fact, there are people who don’t even know about the tribe at all. And this is because, in terms of political aspiration and infra-structural development, Isoko seems to be lagging behind. Nevertheless, the fact still remains that it is one of the finest tribe in Nigeria. The typical Isoko marriage consists of three steps: First visit, second visit, and the paying of the bride price. On the first visit, the groom to be will visit the bride’s home alongside his family members ( about 5 – 10) to introduce and make known their introduction. Upon their arrival, they would be entertained by the girl’s father with kola nut and drinks. Additionally, the girl’s father will give his guest money for their trouble finding their way to his house. In return...

 Last Saturday, September 26, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, performed the sacred pilgrimage to Oke’Mogun in Ile-Ife with the ancient Aare crown on his head. By the reckoning of Ife people, he would be the 51 st Ooni to take them once a year trip with the crown. The Aare is the oldest and most sacred crown in Yoruba land. The Yoruba also believes it is the oldest crown in the world; the father of all crowns. Taking the about one kilometer walk to Oke’Mogun is the climax of the Ooni’s many ecclesiastical duties. It is the Aare that gives him legitimacy and authority. It is the one crown that makes him the Ooni and Arole Oduduwa. The Ooni and his Aare crown are central to the Olojo (Owner of the Day) festival, which is celebrated yearly to memorialise the day Olodumare created the earth. Among the Yoruba people, especially the denizens of the ancient city of Ife, the Ooni is both man and deity. When an Ooni joins his ancestors and ...

  The Kemta Traditional Council of Chiefs has disowned the “ Olu of Orile Kemta ” , Ogun State, Adetokunbo Tejuoso, who was arrested recently by police for an alleged romance scam, saying the man is neither an oba nor a chief in the council. This was contained in a communiqu é issued by the council at the end of a meeting held at Ile Ogboni Kemta and made available to journalists in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The communique was jointly signed by three chiefs: Yomi Rotimi (Oluwo Kemta), Oluwatosin Fadare (Lukotun Kemta), and Bola Taiwo (Sakotun Kemta). The council described Tejuoso ’ s action, arrest and detention as embarrassing, saying that he is not a qualified traditional ruler of the community but rather an impersonator. The communiqu é reads: “ The council decided to make some clarifications on the matter. Adetokunbo Tejuoso was installed as Baale Adabonyin in Orile Kemta, Odeda Local Government of Ogun State ” .   “ He was appointed Olu of Orile Kemta ...

 The Olu of Orile-Kemta in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Adetokunbo Tejuoso, has called on sons and daughters of his community for their support in order to give room for more development. In a press release made available to Nigerian Tribune by the media and publicity secretary to the traditional ruler, Chief Olatunji Bandele, Oba Tejuoso, who is the first traditional ruler of Orile-Kemta appreciated the Ogun State government and his subjects both at home and in the diaspora for their support since his enthronement three years ago. His words: “I abandoned juicy corporate job to come and serve my people and develop my community because of the love I have for culture and tradition. “For five years I was dodging my people just to avoid being a traditional ruler. But today, I’m happy and fulfilled because I am in a position to serve directly.” Speaking on the agricultural development of the area, the traditional ruler bemoaned the state of insecurity in the coun...

 There have always been various ways of communicating in what we can call the traditional days. But not only that, these traditional methods synergies with the very modern means of communication. So, traditional communication has to do with those communication routes that used to be and still exist in rural regions. It usually involves verbal media more than any other medium. Of course, modern communication is more concerned with the use of machines and technology to affect communication. To share ideas, the people of the past would usually do engage in conflict resolutions, cultural festivities and didactic artistry like oral literature that incorporates mystical rituals, folktales, drama, dance and the likes. Through the intertwining of these methods, a message receives amplification in the clearest form possible. You would agree that this, in a way, bears similarity with the methods through which the modern people communicate. To pass information, people take to the soci...

  When Maryam Babangida, the late spouse of former military dictator, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, launched the programme called Better Life for Rural Women in the 1980s, many naïve Nigerians, particularly women, thought that the scheme would bring a new lease of life to rural women who were usually neglected by the three tiers of government. Moreover, several sycophants of the government, including ‘respected’ Nigerians with pompous, highfalutin, academic and professional titles, hailed the initiative as a game-changer that can radically transform and empower women in the villages. But more discerning Nigerians saw the programme as another scam by the ruling class to further despoil the people. It turned out the critics were right, because the scheme was hijacked by the wives and mistresses of prominent members of the ruling and business elite for their narrow selfish interests. An initiative allegedly motivated by “humane motherly considerations for the rural poor” from the ...

 The indigenous people of the Yoruba land communicate and pass on message from one person to another or from one village to another through the use of AROKO.  This system is symbolic and coded where objects (animate or inanimate) are packed together and used to pass on the message or to communicate.  Three body systems are important when sending aroko. They are the sender, the materials and the receiver. These objects (aroko) must be able to be understood and interpreted by the receiver. People use it when discussing secretive or important issues. Aroko can be sent through a messenger, an animal or a friend. Most times, the aroko are not understood by the message but it is inappropriate for the messenger to pry into the objects of communication. Common aroko objects are leaves, kola nut, calabash, broom, a stick of broom, gun, cloth, blood, cowrie shell, parrot, fruit, fly whisk, chewing stick, stone etc. Few of these traditional modes of communication will be highlight...

 Isuofia the home town of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and foremost industrialists, Chief Paul Okonkwo, chairman Pokobros Group of Companies was on Saturday agog as the crisis-torn community celebrated its first unity New Yam Festival, after 22 year of crisis that divided the community into two, Isuofia and Isuaniocha, before they finally came together again to be one united community.    Eminent sons and daughters of the community trooped out in mass to be part of the celebration, as they filed out according to the six villages that make up Isuofia town, namely Umueze, Ozalla,Isiaku,  Okpoko, Akulu and  Ezioka, to participate in the ceremony. Visibly happy Chief Paul Okonkwo, who has never hidden his love for the unity of Isuofia, having thrown his weight, money and personality for the resolution of the over twenty years crisis that rocked the community, told South East Voice, SEV, that with the Unity Iri Ji 2019 (New Yam Festival) of Isuofia, after over twenty ye...

 It was a potpourri of traditions and culture as well as a showcase of the rich heritage of the Egba nation, when the Olumo Festival, was celebrated recently.  The Olumo Rock Groove, Ikija in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and venue of the event was filled to the brim by enthusiasts of culture and traditions. Drumming, singing and dancing rent the air, while chanting of different Yoruba folklores were rendered to the delight of the crowd. Retinue of traditional rulers in Egbaland, led by the Alake, Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, dressed resplendently to celebrate the historic Olumo Rock, which sheltered the Egba from the rampaging warriors of Dahomey. The event was also to remember the exploits and bravery of Lisabi, who liberated the Egba people from the shackles of oppression of the representatives of the Alaafin of Oyo. Also in attendance was the Generalisimo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams. The Aare Ona Kakanfo, who is the Chief Promoter of Olokun Festival, also co-facilita...

  Ekiti State located in the south western region of Nigeria, is known for its cultural relevance. Despite it’s advancement in civilization, it still respects its cultural values and celebrate its festival annually. Some of those festivals include the following: UDIROKO FESTIVAL The Udiroko festival is celebrated in Ado-Ekiti. This festival brings all Ado-Ekiti citizens both at home and in the diaspora together. It was established around 1310 AD during the reign of Oba Awamaro, the first Ewi (king) of present day Ado-Ekiti and marks the first day of the year for the town’s inhabitants. It is a day people set aside to give thanks to their creator Olorun (hence its nickname, the Olorunborun festival). The name udiroko is derived from the venue of the festival, which is beneath the big Uroko (Iroko) tree at the Ewi’s palace. OGUN FESTIVAL The Ogun festival is held annually in most towns and villages in the state in remembrance and worship of the god of iron. Ogun is believed to ...

    Nigerian culture is multi-ethnic and gives a lot of value to different types of arts; which primarily include ivory carving, grass weaving, wood carving, leather and calabash, pottery, painting, glass and metal works, and cloth weaving (textile). Among all these forms of art, Adire, which is common among the people of Egbaland in Ogun State, is probably the most reflective of its cultural origin. Abeokuta is said to be the capital of the Egba nation, and the Adire industry in Nigeria. Although the missionaries introduced the people to cotton in the 1850’s, cotton weaving, pottery and Adire are all traditional crafts of the Abeokuta people. Adire textile is a resist-dyed cloth produced and worn primarily by the Yoruba people of south-western Nigeria. The Yoruba label adire (meaning “tie and dye”) was first applied to indigo-dyed cloth decorated with resist patterns in the early twentieth century. By the second half of the twentieth century, broader colour palette of impor...

 President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to adopt dialogue and not confrontation to stem the tide of secessionist agitations in the country, which has further heated up the polity in recent time.   The Eselu of Iseluland in Yewa area of Ogun State, Oba Ebenezer Akintunde Akinyemi, who made the appeal in an open letter to Buhari, a copy of which was made available to The Guardian, yesterday, said dialogue with all sections of the country, especially the South-east, which now looks like a war zone.   “It is a fact that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has been re-arrested to face charges against him, but dialogue with all sections of the country will help to nip in the bud the various security challenges, which have sprung up in the South-east and other sections of the country.   “ If dialogue is adopted, it will definitely prevent more of Nnamdi Kanus from springing up in the South-east and other parts of the country. I am also plea...

There was tension in Ile-Ife and Modakeke on Tuesday as two people were reportedly killed in the Alapata area of the two communities. The Nation gathered that the two deceased were living in Modakeke. It was learnt that youths from Modakeke discovered the corpses and alleged they were killed by Ile-Ife indigenes. The discovery of the corpses sparked tension in the two communities. A resident of Ile-Ife, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Following the discovery of the corpses of the two people that were killed, there was tension in Ile-Ife because Modakeke youths have been moving around angrily.” Spokesperson of Modakeke Progressive Union, Venerable Debo Babalola, confirmed he heard about the incident to The Nation. He however noted details of the incident were not yet known to him. Spokesperson of Osun Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, said: “We don’t have details of the incident. We are working around the matter.” culled from thenationonlineng.net