By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun has disclosed that the state government is to the celebration of Egungun festival across the state.
The Commissioner said this in Ibadan on Thursday at a stakeholder meeting involving heads of masquerades across the state (the Alaagba), the Aare Isese from all the geographical zones of the state.
Mr Arulogun disclosed that towards this end, the state government is srt to put in place machinery to reform the celebration of the festival across the state in order to curb the excesses of Egungun followership, as the festival will rather be used to showcase the rich cultural values of Egungun in the state and promote it beyond the shores of the country.
“Egungun festival is one of our heritage festivals and the Ministry tasks with the promotion and preservation of our cultural heritage is set to project and package the entertainment value in a non-threatening manner devoid of violence.” he said.
The Commissioner maintained that henceforth, the celebration of the Egungun (Masquerade) Festival ” will be devoid of violence and hooliganism that usually accompany it.’, adding that the era of using Egungun Festival to perpetrate violence is gone, as the entertainment and cultural values of the festival would be celebrated and promoted locally and internationally.
Speaking further, Mr Arulogun added that Oyo state government has commenced the engagement of stakeholders in readiness for due collaboration to give the festival the prominence it deserves, and that there is the need for the stakeholders to support the government in the reform process.
The Olori Alagba of Ibadan, Chief Ojetunde Akinleye Asoleke while speaking lauded the government for the initiative, and pledged their loyalty and showing their readiness to cooperate with the government on its reform process to curb violence and use the festival to promote the cultural values of Egungun.
Chief Asoleke who suggested that henceforth, any masquerade that foments trouble should be banned for three years, added that they have cautioned their members on the need to stay away from any conduct that can affect the reputation of the festival.
The Aare Ise n baye Saki Zone, Chief Sesan Onibode said that the meeting shows that government is very serious about security, stressing that the repackaging of the festival and the collaborative efforts of the government will bring sanity to street carnivals adding that the state government should engage in sensitization and enlightenment at various levels, appreciating the government extension of the hands of fellowship to the masquerade during their festivals.
Representative of Universal Films and Communications Limited, Mr. Yinka Ogundaisi in his remark disclosed that the government is not taking away the festival from the custodians of the masquerade but working with them to transform it to have a global appeal.
