In an effort to revive and promote the rich cultural heritage of Ogbomosoland, the Ogbomosoland Committee for Culture and Tourism has announced the maiden edition of the Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival, scheduled to take place from December 19 to 23, 2024.
The Chairman of the Ogbomosoland Committee for Culture and Tourism, Prince Williams Adeleye, disclosed during a press conference held at the palace of the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, on Thursday, August 8.
Ogbomosoland, a composite of over 1,000 communities spanning five local government areas, is renowned for its rich agricultural heritage, diverse cultures and thriving tourism potentialities.
The region’s Yoruba people are endowed with a vibrant heritage, including ancient palaces, shrines, festivals, deities, masquerades, and a variety of traditional cuisines.
“We are now working towards rejuvenating the revered heritage and showcasing it to the world, with the intent of promoting peace, creating jobs, and developing the city socio-economical relevance to attract tourists and investment,” said Prince Adeleye.
The Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival will feature a diverse lineup of activities, including the Egungun display, the Odun Oole Oba (a traditional cuisine festival), the Oba Ghandi Golf tournament, showcase of core traditional gastronomy, stage plays and musical concerts.
Ogbomoso-born international artiste, Mr Alexander Akande Abolore, popularly known as 9ice, will be officially unveiled as the face of the festival during the unveiling of the logo and stakeholders’ forum with a date to be announced soon.
The committee has been working closely with traditional rulers, local stakeholders, and the government to ensure the success of the maiden edition and subsequent editions of the Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival.
“Many countries, including the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Kenya, South Africa, and Rwanda, have thrived on tourism. And we are aligning with the position of the federal and state governments in promoting domestic tourism arts and Culture,” Prince Adeleye added.
The Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival presents an exciting opportunity for cultural enthusiasts, tourists, and collaborators to experience the vibrant heritage of Ogbomosoland.
The committee invites all stakeholders, sponsors, and interested parties to join in making the maiden edition a resounding success.
Prince Dotun Oyelade, Oyo state commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation in his remark, said the idea of the carnival is to enhance and consolidate the culture of Ogbomoso and to open the eyes of the world to the potentials in Ogbomoso
He added that Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye has been moving around the world to preach culture and tradition to restore the confidence of Ogbomoso indigenes in the Diaspora and at home to the need to allign with his 25 years’ development plan and support the vision for economic development.
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