The Oluyole Festival‘s second edition is set to be held in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, in a grand style. The event will take place between Wednesday, November 29 and Sunday, December 3, 2023. During the five-day cultural event, there will be various activities, such as cultural displays, exhibitions, fashion parades, sports, music and more. The festival is aimed at showcasing Ibadan culture and heritage, as well as that of the Yoruba race, to the whole world.
Folarin Laosun, the Convener of the festival and Chief Executive Officer of Filmtrique Media, spoke to journalists at Arhheim, Kudeti Avenue, Onireke, Jericho, and expressed his excitement about contributing to the growth of culture and tourism in Oyo State through the festival. He added that the festival is not only intended to promote culture and tradition but also serves as an avenue to network for better opportunities among participants.
On Wednesday, November 29, the festival will kick off with a visit to the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Ali Okunmade II, to pay homage and receive royal blessings. Later that day, there will be an arts exhibition and a mini-documentary on Ibadan.
On day two, there will be a seminar about the essence of Ibadan and why it is important to the Yoruba community. Furthermore, Folarin Laosun will screen his film, and a 48-hour film challenge will be opened. Filmmakers can apply and shoot anything related to Ibadan and win a cash prize. Foodco has agreed to give the contest winner a sum of N300,000.
On day three, there will be a football tournament, and the winner will be rewarded with N300,000. Additionally, there will be a Golf tournament.
On day four, there will be another Golf Tournament, and on day five, the grand finale, there will be a carnival procession. The organizers are seeking support on how they can use Mapo Hall. Also, on the grand finale, a special artist from Ibadan will perform. Once confirmed, they will announce the artist’s name.
Laosun, while appreciating the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for the support, called on the state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to push funds into the creative industry to engage more youths and make Oyo State an entertainment hub in the country.
The filmmaker appealed to the governor to fulfill his Omi-Tuntun 2.0 promise to the youth to make use of the tourism sector to drive the state economy.
“The main challenge for everybody is money. You can’t get anything done without money. But with the little resources I have and the connections I was able to put some contacts together. But I think the governor as well needs to do something because he said in his Omi Tuntun 2.0 that he is going to support the creative industry (Entertainment) and tourism.
“The governor needs to push more funds into this sector and help to develop the hidden treasures in Oyo State. And if the government did not empower the ministry, how can they work? They are doing their hest, at least they are here today, they supported the way they can do but if they don’t have the capacity there is nothing they can do. So, everything still falls back to the governor, we have to appeal to the governor to please try and put the small funds into the tourism and entertainment industry because that is where everybody enjoys their lives.”
Meanwhile, the representative of the state Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Alhaja Titilayo Lawal, expressed her joy that youths are taking interest in promoting the culture and heritage of Ibadan.
“I will just say that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is glad to be part of this epoch-making event that is Oluyole Festival 2023 because it has to be with our culture. As we all know that our culture is our heritage, and anything that is a heritage is one person’s identity. So, we are partnering with organizers of the Oluyole Festival this year by giving them an endorsement letter that can speak for them wherever they go, because we all know that the government’s endorsement will open doors for them.”
“Though they have been doing it but with the government’s name it will serve as leverage for them. We want to say that we believe that this festival will be a continuous thing that as time goes on it will bring Ibadan to limelight again. We are happy that youths are now embracing our
culture because before, youths didn’t really associate with our culture, but today we are indeed very glad to have this kind of festival happening in Ibadan, Oyo State.”
Lawal noted that before the festival can be enlisted in the state cultural calendar just like we have in Twins Festival in Igbo-Ora, Sango Festival in Oyo, Aso-Oke Festival in Iseyin and lyake Festival, there is need to study the progress of the festival for some years and the outcome of the study will determine the next step.
In his remarks, a committee member and Mogaji of Ile-Nla, Labiran in Ibadan, Chief Olajuwon Subair-Adelokun, said that the essence of the festival is to bring out the cultural essence of Ibadan and to revive the core values which we have been losing over the years due to civilization.
The youngest Mogaji in Ibadanland said he joined the course basically for promotion of the heritage of Ibadan and to bring in more youths.
Speaking on the importance of culture, Chairman, Planning Committee, Rev Father Akee Joachim, noted that there is no issue associating with someone promoting or projecting his or her culture and heritage.
“In fact, there is no religious barrier preventing either Christians or Muslims from doing such. So, as a Reverend Father, I am seeking for the support of everybody towards the success of the Oluyole Festival 2023.”
