AuIt is no longer news that every August 20, the government sets aside a day for the celebration of the annual Ìṣẹ̀ṣe festival, while also declaring it a public holiday for workers.
This is why Ìṣẹ̀ṣe practitioners do not take the occasion lightly.
They use the period to perform the necessary traditional rites and ceremonies for the peace, stability and development of their towns and communities.
Among the Yoruba towns that take the Ìṣẹ̀ṣe festival seriously is Iroko, which has now developed from what was once a village into a town. Every year, the people gather together to celebrate the festival.
Speaking on the occasion, Oba Olusegun Ayinde Feyijinmi, the Oniroko of Iroko, said preparations were already underway for this year’s celebration, which would take place next Thursday.
Oba Oniroko explained that they never take the day for granted because the celebration involves all sons and daughters of the town, as well as visitors who have an interest in the development of the community.
He said, the government has set aside August 20 for the celebration of Ìṣẹ̀ṣe and has declared it a public holiday. We also requested this because the government gives Christians and Muslims public holidays during their religious festivals.
“We do not wait until visitors arrive before we begin preparations. Once people start coming, we are already prepared. As we do in Iroko, we first consult Ifá.”
The monarch explained that although he would be the one to guide the people through the activities of the day and determine what would be done, Ifá remains their spiritual guide.
The Kabiyesi said, “Ifá is what guides us because we believe that Ifá is our guide. There are also certain things that we must perform on that particular day.
“First, we go to the Ẹrukomu River to offer our traditional worship. If you are travelling from Lagos towards Ogun State, after reaching the Sango Toll Gate, you cross over that river before entering the town.
“However, the part of the water that flows properly here is what we call Ẹrukomu, and we worship the water there.
“In ancient times, our forefathers did not drink water from elsewhere. That was where our ancestors fetched the water they drank and used for various purposes.
“During the festival period, our ancestors would go to that river to prepare the way. They knew how to organize themselves, and they would take their hoes and go to their farms. We also go there to worship the water as part of this year’s Ìṣẹ̀ṣe festival.”
According to the monarch, after leaving the river, there are other sacred places that they visit, where they offer prayers for the community, including prayers for spiritual power and prosperity.
The Oniroko further explained, “As the king, I will be with them, and together we will pray for the town. We will go to the graves or resting places of our ancestors to pray for them. According to Yoruba tradition and belief, we must continue to honour them. We will perform the necessary rites, including the breaking of kolanuts and whatever else is required.
“We will also visit the children and visitors to the town who have an interest in its development. We will equally visit important junctions and strategic places within the town.
“We will worship Ogun and Èṣù, after which we will go to a place called Alaalẹ̀. We call it Orílẹ̀ Iroko. That is where our ancestors carried out their activities. That is where we perform whatever Ifá instructs us to do. After that comes eating and drinking.”
He added that Egúngún and Igunuko would also come out on the day, in accordance with Ifá’s instructions.
“Egúngún will come out that day, as well as Igunuko, following the instructions of Ifá. If Ifá says certain matters should be addressed publicly, we will do so. Even if the activities continue until evening, we will have already informed the people and obtained the necessary approval from the government.
“Indeed, this town is no longer a village. It has become a full-fledged town, and we must examine everything carefully so that we can properly take care of ourselves and our community.”
The monarch also disclosed that the activities would begin early in the morning.
According to him, by about 6:30 a.m., the traditional rulers, chiefs, title holders and sons and daughters of the town would have gathered at the designated meeting point.
He explained that because they would first be going to the river to perform the traditional rites, they would also need to meet with the Oluwẹ̀rì (the traditional custodian/guardian of the river) at his residence.
He concluded that the programme would proceed from there until, by about 11:00 a.m., they would arrive to appease and pay homage to the ancestors, where further traditional activities would take place.
