King wears sacred crown for the first time

On Saturday, October 15, 2016, attendees of the Olojo Festival as the Ooni emerged from seclusion with the sacred Aare crown on his head.

ALSO READ: Ooni of Ife ends seclusion as festival unfolds

The special crown is historically and spiritually significant because it is the ancestral crown of Oduduwa and the Ooni wears it once a year. The Aare crown is made up of 151 items, two of which are cutlass and hoe.‎

The Olojo festival, celebrated in the ancient city is a celebration of the creation of man, day, dusk and dawn.

The Ooni of Ife had earlier entered into a seven day seclusion from Sunday, October 9, 2016. He remerged from this seclusion with the Aare crown on his head to chants of jubilation from spectators.

The Ooni was dressed in white and he performed the final rites before putting on the crown. He came out with the crown and a white dove, praying for peace in the ancient kingdom.

The Oba's procession was heralded with prayers and gunshots as he proceeded to the Oke Mogun (Ogun shrine) and Idi Aje where ritual rites and prayers were performed.

Some of the people that were part of the procession to Oke Mogun are former Governor of South West, AdmiralAkin Aduwo, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Carlos Tredjo Sosa, former President Nigeria Guilds of Editors, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, Special Adviser to Lagos state governor, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Leader of OPC, Dr. Frederick Fasheun, Minority Leader of Osun state House of Assembly, Hon. Safiriyu Akinwole.

The royal fathers in the procession were led by the Ajero of Ijero kingdom, Oba Adewole Joseph, while Ife chiefs, priests and members of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) were there as well.

The people of Ife believe that prayers are answered during the Olojo festival.