The ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Southwest, Nigeria was thrown into an elaborate cultural fanfare, feasting and excitement at the 2022 edition of the Àyàn Àgalú Festival.
Àyàn Àgalú is an annual cultural event initiated by the Arole Oduduwa, Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife to remember and celebrate the Ayan legends across Yoruba land.
It is particularly an annual occasion observed in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, the cradle and spiritual headquarters of the Yoruba race to celebrate Àyàn Àgalú, a deity believed to be the first drummer on earth.
Held between Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th June, 2022; this year's edition of the event witnessed a massive turnout of the Àyanàns and lovers of the Yoruba culture from around the world.
It featured very colourful large-scale stage performances from several cultural troupes which stormed the event from various parts of the country with various kinds and varieties of drums.
The day one featured an introductory performances from selected cultural troupes at the Ilé Oòduà, Ooni's palace where the Ooni accompanied by some other prominent traditional rulers and chiefs offered prayers for the people, the Omo Ayans(Ayan Agalu offsprings), the city of Ife and the entire Yorubaland in general in line with ancestral prescriptions.
This was followed by an ancestral procession led by the Balale Oonilu of Ife from the palace to important sacred spots in the city where prayers and sacrifices were offered.
The first point being Àtìbà, where the Ayan Agalu shrine is located and thereafter proceeded to the Oke Mogun, the Ogun shrine and finally Ita Oranfe at the Shrine of Olokun before returning to the palace.
The day two and the grand finale was more of advanced colourful cultural displays and performances, held at the massive Ojaja Arena inside the Ife Grand Resorts and Industrial Park, Ile-Ife, where lectures, trainings, and prizes were worn.
The Ooni who also displayed his talking drumming skill at the event however used the occasion to drum for peace to resign supreme in the country.
Eminent personalities and royal fathers who graced the event included the Olofin Iseri Awori, HRM Oba Adekunle Bamgbade, Apetu of Ipetumodu, HRM Oba(Prof) Olugbenga Oloyede, the Salu of Edunabon, HRM Oba Kehinde Oladepo, the Atta of Ayede-Ekiti, HRM Oba Abdumumini Orisagbemi, the Alara of Araodaye-Ife, HRM Oba Olusegun Layade and Atayero of Aramoko Ekiti, HRH Olusegun Aderemi.
The event witnessed the presence of prominent figures in the cultural and entertainment arena and featured star performances from popular artists including Ayanagalu Amazon Ara, the first female talking drummer on the world stage and the first female bata drummer, Bisola Omoge Bata who was equally the Face of Ayan Agalu Festival, 2022.
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