By Dayo Johnson Akure

The annual Ode Mare Festival will serve as a veritable platform to foster unity, promote peace, and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the people.

Ode Mare festival is a culturally inclined festival held in Idanre council area of the state.

It was newly introduced event designed to celebrate the uniqueness of the Idanre people and their ancestral history before their descent from Oke Idanre.

Various quarters in the Idanre Kingdom, including Isalu, Idale, Irowo, Alade, and Atoshin were showcased during the festival

Speaking at the event, the Aare Onakakanfo of Otoja in Idanre, Chief Lawrence Akinboni, described the festival as an avenue to promote traditional values, indigenous music and dance, while also attracting tourists and boosting local economic activities.

Akinboni, said that the celebration goes beyond entertainment, stressing that it symbolises shared history, identity, and togetherness among Idanre people both at home and in the diaspora.

According to him “The Ode Mare is a festival created to provide a platform for the Idanre Kingdom. It is our way of appreciating God for the economic growth of the community. We believe strongly in our culture and heritage.

“Anything you do, just give thanks. This festival gives us the opportunity to celebrate our cultural heritage and promote our values, letting people know that Idanre has good sons and daughters,” he said.

Akinboni added that the celebration would grow bigger in subsequent years, noting that future editions would be more elaborate.

Also speaking, a community leader, Engr. Olaleye Osunmakinwa said the festival would help reconnect Idanre people across the globe while strengthening communal bonds.

“The Ode Mare Festival is very important to us. Firstly, we are trying to connect our people all over the world. Everything we are doing here is being watched globally.

“We are calling our people back home. We need unity in our midst and initiatives that will bring progress, not backwardness,” he said.

Osunmakinwa added that beyond cultural promotion, the festival holds significant economic value for the town.

“We do not want to rely solely on cocoa. We want our culture to generate income.

” There are many things around us in Idanre worth celebrating, and this festival will boost our economy,” he noted.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Chief Akinwole Solomon, said the Ode Mare Festival would place Idanre on the global tourism map while promoting the town’s cultural heritage.

Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Afolabi Adesoji said the festival was designed to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Idanre people.

Represented by the Director of Tourism in the ministry, Dr. Adeola Aderinola, the commissioner assured that the state government would continue to promote culture and tourism to drive economic growth.

Adesoji said that “This festival is designed to promote culture and tourism in Ondo State. What we are witnessing today is part of the Mare Festival, a new innovation tagged Ode Mare,” he explained.

He added that “It is meant to promote the rich culture of the Idanre people, as evident in their traditional attire and cultural displays.