Takete Ide Day 2024 festival.

Richard Elesho

Days before the Takete Ide Day 2024 festival, the world around the agrarian MopAmuro community in Kogiwest  knew a grand event was in the often. It was piquant. There were increased consultations among stakeholders, banners, radio jingles, reminder letters to invited guests, and several activities stimulating interests on social media to herald the ceremony. The D-day was not a disappointment.

The community woke up with the echoes of the ceremony on Saturday, 2 November. Many people were still in bed when at dawn enthusiastic citizens went on procession with the legendary Agbagba Ide, a dish-like iron pot, believed to be the death knell of the enemy in the various wars that confronted the community in the past. The excited band of women moved from door to door, singing and dancing to music produced from a mash of aje, agogo, atewo, and arilele. The group raked in handsome donations from the performance.

A unique feature of the day was its vibration in the nooks and cranny of the town. Although the Universal Basic Education, UBE, school venue of the ceremony was the centre of activities, a few musical minstrels also went around offering cultural entertainment at certain locations. Gunshots, Oye (a local flute), fere (whistle), Akutu (trumpet made with cow horn), and Agogo (Bell dong) made up the instruments of these performances. Simply put, the community erupted in a gay of hilarity, with its air penetrating the immediate neighbourhood.

Pioneered by the immediate past President, Takete Ide Progressive Union, TIPU, Elder Sam Orunmbe, this year’s ceremony marked the seventh in the series and the third under Prince Richard Fiki, the incumbent president of the apex sociocultural union. Over the years, it has transmuted from a simple ceremony to a fertile ground for cultural rejuvenation and exchange, cross-fertilisation of developmental ideas, and promotion of peace.

The chief takeaway from this year’s festival is the immense possibilities of unity and brotherhood. For one, sons and daughters of the community set aside divisive tendencies of politics, religion, and class to act as one. Colourful as the festival turned out, all participants filed out simply as brothers and sisters leaving behind the garb of political parties, church denominations, and class differences.

People who travelled from far and near notably the invited guests, and those who followed the program live on radio and social media channels, were bemused to the best of Ide culture.

The Olude of Takete Ide, His Royal Majesty, Oba Philip Ebilakun, an octogenarian, and members of the traditional council in their white regalia were sights to behold as they led invited royalty into their podium. They added a unique ambience to the fiesta. By the way, white was the colour of the occasion.

The musical interludes were homemade. The duo of Tope Akin and Bolu Omopariola both indigenes treated guests to sonorous tunes lazed with masterly Afrojuju and pkalongo renditions. A third leg to the stage was Kajo, aka Elelu Iyagba, a band of younger smart drummers and orchestra talents led by Sunday Ronpali, which constituted a side attraction. The trio made the festival memorable.

Of course, guests won’t forget in a hurry exclusively feminine, Are Imole and the equally gender-sensitive Iya’o ibile displays. Imole dancers always tie immaculate white wrappers to their chests and beads to match, accompanied by fast, stylish dancing steps. Their lyrics call attention to social ills.

Its twin display, Iya’o ibile, also called Are Iyawo, is a traditional wedding show. The bride wears a crown of sparkling pins on her head, assorted bangles and beads in her hands, neck, and waiste. One of her Orumos, (bridal train) carries Igba Iya’o (bridal luggage), a lavishly decorated metal container loaded with assorted items to help the new wife settle in her husband’s house, where she is not supposed to constitute a burden, let alone nuisance. In Ide heritage, a wife is a partner in progress.

A predominantly Chistian community, where the religion berthed  more than a century ago, precisely in 1919, prayers were offered for peace and success of the land and her citizens. Four hunters who successfully defended the community against gunmen attacks were singled out for recognition. They were listed in the Gallant Citizen Award, GCA, a pedigree which allows them exclusive use of Akinkoju, (warlord), as a prefix to their names.

Speeches delivered at the festival called attention to the infrastructure gaps in the community. Oba Ebilakun, Prince Fiki, and Chairman Planning Committee, Kingsley Fanwo, who incidentally doubles as Commissioner for Information and Communication aggregated the requests. They called on the Special Guest of Honour, Governor Usman Ododo to approve the construction of roads leading to the community. They also urged him to rehabilitate its collapsed electricity, while appreciating his significant interventions in other areas.

That was not all. The program came with an embedded N100 million development fund raise. Proceeds were to be ploughed in the completion of a model civic centre. The.people boast of a rich history of self help and community service called Ise-Ilu. An Abuja based businessman and Obahao Takete, Chief Temitope Atte

reeled out a list of projects that started by communal efforts before government takeover. They include Government Day Secondary School, Takete Ide, electrification project, health Centre, Owowo Bridge, road maintenance, and security outposts.

“Our people are not lazy. We inherited the spirit of community service from our fathers. Virtually every facility we have in Takete today started as a self help. But no one can do it alone and that is the reason we are asking for assistance of the governments and well meaning individuals. Our commitment is that every penny will be used for its intended purpose.” Atte remarked.

A significant aspect of the cultural heritage on display was the wining and dinning. Takete Ide Day 2024 was a banqueth not easy to ignore. The vctuals were not junks. Pounded yam, Amola and Rice stole the show, even as beef, chicken and fish were in stiff competition. These, people washed down with undiluted Palm wine, Burukutu or Pito. For a touch of universality, wines and soft drinks were not in short supply.

Oh! I forgot to mention the aura created by the intelligence that Egungun Alase, a dreaded masquerade was planning an appearance around the festival. Anyway, that did not happen until the following day, Sunday, 3 November and will be story for another day.

Salivating? Come for the TID feast.