By _ Babatunde Kaka & Ronny Ikpoto
EDITOR’S PICKS:
The 2021 edition of the Kayokayo festival came to a fitting climax with a grand finale at the Lagos Theatre, Epe on Saturday, September 11, 2021.
Otunba TJ Abass, Aremo of Epe Kingdom during his welcome address
The highlight of the grand finale was a dramatic re-enactment of the trials and adventure of King Kosoko during his journey from Lagos Island to Epe; a journey that would ultimately change the course of history for Epe kingdom on several dimensions.
Promiment sons and daughters of Epe present at the event include His Royal Majesty, Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, Telade IV, Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Hon Wale Raji, Member representing Epe Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Princess Surah Olayemi Animashaun, first female Chairman of Epe Local Government, Rt Hon Adeyemi Sabit Ikofuriji, former speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Mustain Tobun Abiodun, Member representing Epe Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Others were Hon Garbadeen Olabode, former Lagos state commissioner for Local Government, Professor Nosiru Onibon, Provost, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), and Tiamiyu Abiola Olojo Kosoko, the Oloja of Ereko.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the kayokayo planning committee, Otunba TJ Abass, Aremo of Epe land, thanked sons and daughters of Epe for their unsparing contributions towards ensuring that this year’s kayokayo was celebrated with the flair and flamboyance that is synonymous with the festival, noting that everyone’s unyielding desire to pitch in their financial resources towards the success of the festival despite the austere economic situation of the day was a testament of their undying love for their community.
He also praised the irrepressible spirit of the community, which he described as a beautiful story which the kayokayo provides a platform to sell in the quest towards leveraging the immense tourism potentials of Epe for economic development and intercultural relations.
“Ours is a beautiful story. It may not be perfect, but it is a beautiful story. It is a story of cohabitation between the Eko Epes and the Ijebu Epes who have lived together for more than 176 years.”
“It is a story of the tourism potentials that we have in our community. It is a story of a beautiful culture; a rich and diverse culture. We are not there yet, but we shall get there. Culture is very important. It is the key to our development. It unlocks the economic potentials of any community. One of those cultures is what we are talking about here today; that is kayokayo.”
“Kayokayo festival is one of the foremost and the most iconic festival celebrated by Epe people. We have the Okoshi, we have Ebi, we have Kilajolu, why can’t we industriously leverage on these, harness these for the the development of our community? That is our goal, and that is what we will do.”
The drama performance, which adopted elements of Traditional African aesthetics and modernism was a chronicle of the travails of King Kosoko’s sojourn to Epe Kingdom, beginning from his vehement repudiation of slave trade and the repercussions that followed, causing him to embark on the year-long journey to Epe Kingdom.
King Kosoko’s voyage, according to documented history, paved way for the domiciling of the Islamic religion in Epe Kingdom, along with certain aspects of its cultural norms.
Western education, social emancipation, as well as the building blocks for the modern day Epe town is also said to have sprung from King Kosoko’s voyage to Epe Kingdom.
As a result, Kayokayo has remained a foremost festival in Epe to re-enact the noble values that gave birth to the progressive community as we know it today.
FURTHER READING:
Earlier, a prayer session anchored by the Chief Imam of Epe Central Mosque held at the palace of Olu-Epe, Oba Dr. Shefiu Adewale.
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