2013 Osun Osogbo welcomes new votary maid

The route to the festival where the votary maid (Arugba Osun) led a procession alongside Osun priest, priestess, devotees and tourists  to the grove for the 2013 edition was besieged by a sea of heads who almost caused a stampede, even with the huge presence of all manner of security operatives.

Unlike previous events, this year’s outing was colourful, vendors-friendly, yet characterised by poor crowd control mechanisms, not because there were no security operatives, but because the operatives too were lost in the euphoria of the fiesta.

A new trend in the celebration, which brought different colours and style to the event, also got a touch of support from the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration.

In its capacity, the state tourism ministry put up a night of command performance by the Hornbill House of the Arts with the theme “Nigeria the Beautiful,” held at the Government House, Osogbo.

The stage play x-rayed the story of Nigeria from the first colonial Governor General, Lord Fredrick Lugard, to the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. The group’s performance matched two preceding dance dramas; ‘Under African Skies’ and ‘A feast of Return’, which told the story of Africa from the beginning of time to the era of the liberation struggles in the 20th century, South Africa’s apartheid insurgency and many more.

‘Nigeria the beautiful’ offers a distance from the common view of Nigeria as home to a discordance of not only tongues and cultures but where nothing works or anything goes. It ends with a pointer that addresses. What Nigerians loved and still love most about the country; enduring beauty, so much beauty in the diversities and cultural differences that many consider the national albatross.

The celebration arena (Ojubo Osun) wore a new look, with the pavilion expanded and elevated with three different settings for different classes of personalities, with ample space for the convenience of journalists, cultural groups and entertainers.

The pavilion, which is still undergoing remodelling, is part of the projects for which the state earmarked N300 million as a statement of commitment to making tourism the mainstay of its economy.

The display of togetherness at this year’s festival re-entrenched the significance of public and private sector partnership in the genuine efforts of a state blessed with all paraphernalia of a global destination to grow.

The Votary Maid was the main attraction at the festival because it was her first outing after the exit of the previous maid who played the cultural role for 10 years.

However, the crowd she pulled was because not only she was the Arugba or as a first timer, but because of her youthfulness (age 12). Could she carry the big calabash filled to its brim with different items for the sacrifice? Curiosity made the environment tense and uncontrollable.

From the onset when the Arugba embarked on the journey, people were sceptical about her ability to get to the grove with the weight of the calabash, but she proved all and sundry wrong, though the movement to the Osun grove was dramatically slow because of the different rites performed along the route.

However, at a point in time, drama set in. The votary maid was prevented from being seen among the crowd, as her entourage, priest and priestess, past arugbas and devotees shaded her from sight. As the baton of arugba changed hands, the route was also diverted into one of the bye-passes of the procession.

Subsequently, the writer’s curious mind geared him to raise a question about why the action happened and a devotee who begged for anonymity said that the change of baton was normal because of the age and fragile state of the maid.

According to the interviewee, “One of the duties of the priest and priestess was the scene you witnessed. It was not a big deal but part of the celebration and honour to the votary maid and, in extension, the spiritual duties of other devotees in her entourage.”

Speaking at the Osun grove, Governor Aregbesola, who made his first appearance at the festival, received resounding cheers from the mammoth crowd that besieged the place, as he was ushered to the new pavilion at the arena.

The governor, who was elated at the unprecedented crowd at the grove and the anxiety to squeeze themselves into the arena , said that the Osun Osogbo festival was a landmark event in the state, assuring his commitment to giving it the desired support.

“Efforts are underway in the state to see that those international tourists and visitors who fly into the country, within a space of time have direct access to land in the state.We have embarked on a project for the provision of an airport, which will avail members in the Diaspora and visitors of the opportunity to land via our airport as soon as it is completed.’’

Governor Aregbesola, in his heart-felt appreciation, acknowledged the efforts of the custodians of the festival for sustaining it for over six centuries, promising to continue to add modern touch to the grove.

“In celebrating this prominent festival, we must not forget what it connotes. We must continue to imbibe and deepen the non-material values of this socio-cultural engagement.

“Courage, sacrifice selflessness, brotherliness, hope and faithfulness remain some of the major values under-girding the celebration of Osun Osogbo festival.

“We seek to harness the prosperity of cultural tourism for sustainable development.

“It is common knowledge that if well organised, tourism has a huge capacity for human development, creating employment and reduction of poverty.”

The governor revealed that the state had earmarked N300 million for the upgrade of the various tourist sites across the state.

“With the development in tourism, we want to massively boost private and public revenue generation in arts and craft, tours guide, transportation services, hospitality and entertainment venues like amusement parks and theatre.

“The state government is determined to ensure that the yearly celebration of Osun Osogbo festival records stable increase in the number of participants.

“This development will result in increase in revenue generation, which will in turn significantly improve the standard of the living of the people.”

Aregbesola however promised to continue to creatively package the festival so as to enrich its tourist charm.

“We will not rest on our oars in ensuring that the ancient cities in the state are made suitable for habitation and investment.

“ I commend the organisers for their sacrificial commitment. You can always count on the support of the state government for the continuous success of the festival,’’ he said.

Earlier at the event, the Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Larooye11, who spoke with great enthusiasm and delight not only for the success of the festival but also for having Governor Aregbesola in attendance for the first time in the annals of his administration.

“ It is pertinent to mention and appreciate the good work embarked upon by Ogbeni Aregbesola and his deputy, Titi Laoye-Tomori, including the resuscitation of the old airstrip in Ido Osun, among other infrastructure, to make Osun State a booming economic hub,’’ he said.

Oba Olanipekun, who acknowledged the crucial role the governor played in the organisation of the festival since he assumed office in the area of construction of roads leading to the grove, traffic control, permanent pavilion, beautification of the grove and supply of mobile toilets, added that better things were on the way to make the grove trendy.

The Ataoja commended the private initiative of the corporate, thanking MTN Nigeria, Nigerian Breweries, Goldberg, Grand Oak, Seaman Schnapps, among others, for giving the festival the desired support at all times.