Ero festival in Owo

Age grade festival

Owo observe Ero festival Carnival

Recently , the ancient town, Owo in Ondo state observed [Age grade festival ]Ero Festival .Taiwo Abiodun who witnessed the show writes

Their ages were between 65 and 70.They were all dressed in embroidered complete aso oke [sanyan]Yoruba traditional flowing gown[agbada].It was a colourful occasion .Some of them are chiefs. As they danced , clapped, and wriggled their waists the beads on their necks were swinging sideways .Not minding their status they all danced along with their colleagues . The local musicians rendered songs A rogbo o koko, ene ro sorire , arogbo o koko, iba wa mee ro , A rogbo o koko Awa panmi panmi, awa yena yena [ we are rejoicing as we have joined the elders , whoever celebrate with us is lucky , rejoice with us .We have toiled and paid our dues ].

As the beating of leather drums and the iron gong were more pronounced and the cries of joy went up to high heavens the celebrators increased their dancing steps , while some held the helms of their garments others danced with their ornamental walking sticks .As they approached the gate of the Olowo Palace , they went into frenzy. They danced, and displayed acrobatic skill despite their ages and fragile bodies .They showed love, faithfulness and paid obeisance to the monarch .

In return the royal father came out with his royal traditional sword to rejoice and danced along with them and prayed for them ’’May you all live long .May your shadow and glory never diminish ‘’ he prayed while the thunderous amen followed. He later presented them kolanuts, money , drinks among other things. This was during the Ero Festival held in Owo recently.

Ero festival it is observed every seven years. But this time around it was different because it was observed nine years. Reason :Olowo of Owo celebrated his age grade nine years ago and it is a custom that if the monarch observed his age grade , two years must be added to it making nine years before another Ero festival is held or observed .It is a sign of respect , honour and culture for the monarch.

To attain the Ero grade , according to Chief Babatunde Emmanuel Olugbade

Special clothes are woven for the occasion, and there are some clothes woven by the first daughter of the celebrator

The native clothes woven for the Ero festival are; Seghosen, Iketa, Panmeta , Igbero, Ipanmeru and Kirijo according to Chief Ayodele Obajuaye.

However, Obajuaye described the clothes as special and uncommon clothes attached with so many taboos “,for example whoever weaving the Kirijo clothe must avoid going out of the premises where she was doing it for seven days .She must not partake in leftover food, that is she must eat fresh food everyday until she finished the production. The woman weaving the clothe must have some kolanuts by her side and be giving well wishers.

However, Christians among them took their clothes and danced round the town them will end up in the church to offer prayers on them .The Muslims are not left out as they too took their clothes to the Mosque with their well wishers and offered prayers ditto to the African Traditional Religion worshippers who too called the Traditional priests to pray for them.

‘’No any man born of a woman must have personal contact with the weaver in nutshell no man should even get close to where it is woven. The High Chief added that the woven clothe is always given back to the first female child and it must not be used as girdle or strap belt for the baby boy. Whoever uses it for a male child would have herself to blame’’

One of the celebrant Chief Olugbade spoke about the preparation of the festival , he said ‘’It is like graduation. You must complete the necessary rites and fulfil all righteousness ,One will have to spend seven years in each stage. In Ugbamo alegho and graduate to Ugbakeji Ugbamo where you are to participate in the towns’s activitities like repairing the road, clearing the bush path and fetching water from the stream for the town’s usage . Thus , this is the stage of building the town and contributing one’quota to the development of the town. The third step is Ugbama , where one reaches the ages of 50years plus and the last stage is Ugbama Agba ,

On his own , Chief Olugbade said he killed antelope, cow and entertained friends and well wishers .’’Many killed cows while those who could afford goat did. But it is not compulsory for the celebrators to kill a cow , it depends on one’s purse. But I must confess that this is the period everybody knows how popular and important he is in the community as it is an opportunity to showcase affluence, and fame’’

Engineer Banji Aralepo who participated too said it is another way of thanking God for sparing one’s life. Yes, it is a birthday celebration but I am telling you that it is another way of getting closer to your community and participating in what ever they are doing .I love it, for it is another way of bringing the sons of the soil together and celebrating .

In Owo town , only the male that will celebrate age grade festival while some other neighbouring towns have women who participate in age grade festival , but for Owo , the honour and respect is distinct that no any woman is allowed to partake in the age grade festival

The Olowo of Owo spoke about the festival and said ‘’ it is not fetish, it is like birthday , and it goes along with one’s age group or age bracket. They rejoiced that they have joined the age of wisdom and the stage where they will no longer work or run around .They have become the town leaders and they are the ones solving problems and contribute to the community’s development .It is a blessing .It is here one retires to eat from the fruit of his labour, This is the age of living to one’s fulfilment. They become the wise acre of the community.’’

But an interesting note is a 50 year -old man who also celebrated along with the old men in the Age grade and the question everybody is asking is what was this young man doing for among the old men in their late 60s and 70s? That is the question posed to one of the celebrators, Olanrewaju Fajolu., However, Fajolu said he participated in the Age grade festival because he was occupying the high position meant for the elders .He said ‘’ I am a chief , and I am occupying the chieftaincy title of my late father . I am Chief Oja of Ehin –Ogbe, my age notwithstanding , it is mandated that I must observe what the position requires . And it is a big privilege for me .I thank the Olowo of Owo for accepting a young man like me .I believe it is a destiny.

Honourable Olanipekun Adebeye described the festival as a beautiful thing other towns will soon emulate.’’When I got to the palace and saw the sea of heads of my people celebrating Ero festival , I was elated because it is the sign of love and unity .Irrespective of quarters and religious affiliation they all turned up with drum and gongs to celebrate and made the ancient and first class town in Yoruba Kingdom to be agog again. It is wonderful and the beauty radiates seeing the clothes they wore .It is fantastic.’’, Adebeye stated.