IKORODU FESTIVALS AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS

Ikorodu town is a suburb  in Lagos state. The pivots on which the stability of Ikorodu rest was the legal recognition given to the two ruling houses the RADEMO royal family and the LASUNWON royal family. The two royal families have produced eighteen traditional rulers .The reigning traditional ruler his royal highness Oba Salawu  Oyefusi  is from the RADEMO family.

 There are several festivals celebrated in Ikorodu ranging from odun osu ,which is celebrated by the reigning o Oba, the MAGBO and LIWE popularly known as “ORO” which is a male affair with women kept indoors for 24-hours shutting down all economic activities in the town. This festival holds twice in a year this year MAGBO was celebrated on 31^st day of May 2012 and the LIWE on 16^th June 2012. AGEMO, ELUKU, ODUN OGUN ,IKORODU OGA DAY among others.Ikorodu Oga Day is a special week set aside for all indegenes and people from all works of life regardless of age,class or creed this year’s festival slated for 10^th-17^th November 2012 is meant to bring economic growth to Ikorodu Town.

IKORODU OGA DAY FESTIVAL

Origin of Ikorodu Oga Day

Ikorodu is blessed with rich cultural heritage which dates back as over three centuries  ago. Like any other society Ikorodu people are noted for organising themselves with social activities such as: weddings ,naming ceremony ,house warming ,burial ,birthdays ,illeya ,and Christmas celebrations.

At the end of 1991 Ikorodu was yet to set aside a special day for all its indegenes to come together for a general celebration. After deliberations Ikorodu Oga Day was born and first celebrated on November 20^th and 21^st 1992. Events ranging from football tournament, musical concert where popular artistes are invited ,fashion parade ,beauty contest for miss Ikorodu Oga, market women display their wares it’s like a mini trade fair at the Ikorodu Town Hall, awards are given to acheivers in different fields examples of the recipients of this awards are Abike Dabiri Erewa ,Aluko Dangote amongs others.

This festival holds annually in November and people visit from all part of the world visit Ikorodu buy locally made goods displayed by these market women ,shops and markets experience boost in sales during this period because of the influx of people into the town. It is simply a festival to showcase culture ,products ,and re-union.

ORO FESTIVAL

For over three decades I have lived in Ikorodu “ORO” festival have been celebrated. I heard that it used to be celebrated by the female folk for one week until they could not hold the secrets of the festival and the male folk took over. The MAGBO and LIWE festivals popularly known as “ORO” is celebrated annually in May and June it does not hold on Fridays and Sundays as a mark of respect to the Muslim and Christian holy days. This happened after a forceful showdown with the MAGBO organisers to the extent that communal peace was threatened.

Ajina market is the place where the shrine is located where the “ORO” worshipers go to worship. It is believed that this festival is made to appease the gods for prosperity, peace, and good agricultural produce for Ikorodu people.

This market is situated between Ita Elewa and Itunmoja with entrance at Ojubode and Alhaji street and Itunmoja is one of the oldest market in Ikorodu Town the market operates daily from 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. goods sold are 60% traditional items ranging from herbs to ritual materials, beads and artefacts.

The market area houses many traditional worshipers who are engaged in the spiritual activities this perhaps explains the reason for the nature of products offered for sale in the market.

During the “ORO” festival all economic activities is being shut down, career women have to skip going to work or stay with friends or families to enable them go to work for me I had to miss classes and it wasn’t funny. On the eve of the festival boys with long cane in large group go around the town wiping themselves and causing serious traffic, shops and market close on time to avoid looting, some people have lost their lives via this festival.

Pregnant women and emergency health situation faces the risk of this festival no banking activities ,business ,school everything shutdown and I ask WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF THIS FESTIVAL? Cant it be done at night or wiped off in this 21^st century, it is barbaric and totally selfish,those who don’t live around where it is majorly practiced still stay at home to avoid being attacked.

Women who live around IRESHE ,ANIBABA ,ITUPATE  etc.  have to cover their entrances with mats to avoid any see through to the festival.

In conclusion, the organisers of these MAGBO and LIWE should consider how much is been lost economically in the two days of this festival yearly, the discomfort and sometimes loss of life and properties been lost during these festival and think of a more convenient way to celebrate the festival. The Ikorodu Oga Day has brought about economic value to the town this I think the ORO organisers should emulate.