Category: Culture and Tourism

Why we are committed to worship of Osun goddess – Foreign devotees

Emporium Reporters

Some foreign devotees at the just concluded Osun-Osogbo festival have expressed belief in the sanctity of the Osun deity, saying the annual fiesta offers an opportunity for worship through the sacred grove.   The tourists, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the grand finale of the festival in Osogbo, said the event gave them joy and a sense of belonging in the worship of the Osun goddess.   A Brazilian, Regina Alberto, said she was in Osun specifically for the festival as a…

NIROH celebrates Igbo Unity Day in Awka December

Emporium Reporters

A social cultural pan Igbo group, Ndigbo Royal Heritage Worldwide (NIROH) may have concluded plans to host Unity Day Celebration that will bring Ndigbo together for possible sober reflection and positive action at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, Anambra State capital. The President General of the group, Dr. Paul Okoye who made this known in Abuja Monday during a press conference noted the event billed to bring all Igbos together seeks to reinvent a new direction for the people. Okoye who lamented that most things the ethnic group was known…

Zamfara Govt orders Traditional rulers to seek approval before Awarding Titles

Emporium Reporters

Zamfara State Governor, Dr Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun) has directed traditional Institutions in the state to seek approval from the state Government before awarding and conferring traditional titles. “All Emirs, Senior District Heads and District Heads in the state are hereby directed to officially seek permission from the State Government before conferring traditional titles to anyone”, the Governor said. The directive became necessary in order to check indicriminate award and possible abuse of the traditional institution. “Henceforth, no Emir, Senior District Head or District Head must appoint anybody into any…

Historical 500 Year-Old Ajagbon Tree in Soun Ogbomoso Palace perished during 18hr Rainfall

Emporium Reporters

The historical “Ajagbon” tree in Ogbomoso, previously growing by the fence in the eastside of the palace, has fallen, presumably after more than 500 years of existence. The tree fell in the early hours of Saturday, May 21, 2022, during an eighteen hour rainfall, which began in the evening of Friday, and stopped at about 10am Saturday. The tree which had gradually dried off was totally uprooted away from the fence, drawing the curtain on an important epoch. The loss of the tree is very significant in the history of…

New Och’idoma gets Staff of Office end of June

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Barring last-minute changes, the new Och’Idoma, Dr. John Eliagwu will be formally coronated end of June this year.   The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom disclosed this Monday, May 9th, 2022 at the temporary Palace of the paramount ruler in Otukpo after inspecting the ongoing reconstruction of the traditional rulers’ palace where he also met with other traditional rulers.   He said plans were in place to formally present the Staff of Office to His Royal Majesty and install him at the end of June this year. The Governor said…

Soun Throne And The Allegory Of Esinkesin By Femi OGUNLANA

Emporium Reporters

News filtered in last week that a young man, who believably acted under alcohol and hard drug stimuli broke into the palace of Ogbomoso, which presently has no official occupier to cause mayhem. The prowler simply identified as Ajanlekoko broke glass doors and inflicted various degrees of injuries on palace workers, many of who had to flee to avoid his swinging devastating punches. Some news medium even insinuated the intruder was out to steal the sacred crown of Soun, a report the palace secretary, Mr. Toyin Ajamu, however swiftly repudiated,…

30th Anniversary : Former Kogi Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris salutes Maigari of Lokoja. ….. describes Him as A Detrabalised Traditional Ruler.

Emporium Reporters

Ex Kogi Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris has described the Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji (Dr) Mohammed Kabir Maikarfi III OON as a detrabalised custodian of the most prestigious traditional institution in Kogi state.   The former Kogi Governor bare his mind in a message of congratulation to the paramount ruler of Lokoja kingdom, saying his over three decades reign had not only brought about peace, unity and stability among ethnic nationalities in the state, but seamless human and infrastructural development.   He recalled when the Maigari of Lokoja ascended the throne…

How to memorialize the Alaafin By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

Gradually, the curtains are being drawn on the era of the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Alaafin of Oyo who left us in a thunderbolt manner. The eighth day inter-religious prayers were held yesterday. The next questions that will be asked from today are, how do we make this king live forever in our hearts and who is the next Alaafin? Since over a week of his departure, the world has witnessed a rainbow of reactions to his ascension to the hereafter. While his iconic cultural representation has been lauded…

Obituary:Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III: The Renowned Boxer who Became Longest-serving Alaafin By Kabir Akintayo

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After a brief illness at the ripe age of 83, and as the longest-serving Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has finally joined his ancestors   The Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, was where Oba Adeyemi III, unarguably the most powerful monarch in Yoruba Land, breathed his last, late Friday, April 22, 2022.   Popularly known as ‘IKU BABA YEYE’ meaning ‘The One Who Can Command Death’, the departed Alaafin who reigned for 52 years, was born on October 15, 1938 into the…

Requiem for Aláàfin Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi By Lasisi Olagunju

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Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi spent his last three months winding down in a spectacular way. He made some moves and held some meetings which, in retrospect, showed that there was some urgency in his strides. On February 8, 2022, he was at the University of Ibadan as chairman of my book launch. His speech at that event was short and straight: Federalism for Nigeria or we forget it. He got back to the palace in Oyo that evening and started working on a document that expanded those views he espoused…