Representative of Olu-Epe of Epe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr Shefiu Adewale; High Chief Wale Mogaji spoke while speaking at the event.
By Babatunde Kaka
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Olu-Epe of Epe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr Shefiu Adewale, has reiterated the commitment of the Epe kingdom to advance the level of the Epe Kayokayo festival to the level where it would be internationally recognized.
The monarch and historian spoke during his address at the recently concluded 2022 edition of the Epe Kayokayo Festival which was held at the King Kosoko Embankment Center also known as Epe Marina Waterfront on Saturday 27th August 2022.
Olu-Epe who was represented by High Chief Wale Mogaji, the Otun Balogun of Epe Kingdom and Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Commission, said:
HRH Abiola Kosoko an Rep. Wale Raji excitedly lighted the etufu after the unveiling and commissioning.
“You will agree with me that Kayokayo Festival has taken a new dimension. We need to commend the organizing and the planning committee members for their efforts. Our aim is to develop and promote Kayokayo festival from enviable heights that will gain international recognition and consequently put the festival on a global pedestal.
“I Know a lot of activities have been put together tonight to ensure that we enjoy these moments. I enjoin all our sons and daughters to continue to support the committee under the leadership of Otunba TJ Abass. I appeal to all our youths to comport themselves in an orderly manner to ensure that we have a memorable celebration,” he said.
Olu-Epe seized the medium to extend his warm greetings to notable dignitaries who honoured the invitation to the event with their humble presence.
Hon Owolomoshe, HRH Abiola Kosoko, Hon Wale Raji and Prince Jide Kosoko at the unveiling of the ‘etufu’
While he reiterated that the festival had grown in leaps and bounds over the years with enviable transformations, he recalled that the ‘epo’ masquerade which is one of the integral spectacles witnessed during the festival could be converted into a room a parlour and serve as an avenue to woo their choice of ladies during his days.
He added that the celebration which had a week-long array of events was aesthetically celebrated with the unprecedented Fanti Carnival which he said would be bigger in the coming year in a bid to gain international recognition.
He, therefore, appealed to the Lagos State Government not to relent in the establishment of industries and businesses capable of catalysing the employment of youths for the growth and safety of the community, noting that there was no need for migrating out of the town if job opportunities are available.
The Oloja-elect of Lagos, HRH Oba Abiola Kosoko, while speaking at the event intimated the gathering of the need to modernize the ‘etufu,’ stressing that cultural and traditional legacies handed down by forebearers must be jealously preserved while also taking cognizance of changing times across the globe.
The old and new order.
“I thank the good people of Epe for the opportunity, privilege and honour bestowed upon us to be a part of this celebration. We shall live to celebrate more of this in life. I want to intimate our beautiful and hospitable people of Epe about the modern ‘etufu’ that we commissioned tonight.
“This is just the tip of an iceberg because it is designed in such a way that different kinds of colours would emerge in addition to many different faces. That of the next year would be different from what we’ve experienced tonight but it would still be powered by gas.
“We decided to change the story of ‘etufu’ lighting because we want to be innovative just as the world is advancing in technology. We own our culture and tradition; our culture and tradition don’t own us and that is the more reason why we must continue to advance them from the way they were handed down to us,” he said.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the unveiling of the modern ‘etufu’ got the crowd of fun seekers at the festival astonished as they cheered joyfully at the glimpse of the black, tall fountain of light they had long anticipated.
Present at the festival are Epe Division APC Chieftain and GAC member of the Lagos party, Alhaji Akanni Seriki Bamu; the Oloja-elect of Lagos, HRH Abiola Kosoko; the Alara of Ilara Kingdom of Epe Division, Oba Dr Olukoyode Olukayode Olufolarin, and the Aladeshonyin of Odo-Noforija Kingdom, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja JP FMBE; Kayokayo Festival Grand Ambassador, Prince Jide Kosoko amongst others.
HRH Abiola Kosoko and his wife, Shola Kosoko, an ace broadcaster, at the unveiling.
HRM Oba Olukayode Ogunsanwo and Olori Olu-Epe, Alhaja Aribike Adewale at the unveiling.
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