The cacophony of noise by drummers and their accompanying dancers reverberated in every part of the Oworonsoki Youth centre in Lagos weekend. The air was festive and the feeling lively with a popular Yoruba musician, Saheed Osupa playing.

It was another celebration of the Olokun festival foundation, but this time it is the celebration of the first edition of Grandmothers’ festival.

The festival which began with Yoruba quiz competition on the history of the Yoruba race witnessed various activities, including the Ayo Olopon competition and Musical entertainment among others.

On Saturday, the event was rounded off with fanfare with cultural troupes performances, photo exhibition and grandmothers dance witnessed by the Oba of Oworonsoki land and other dignitaries.

The chief promoter of the festival, Otunba Gani Adams, said the festival is one of the plans to resuscitate the dying culture of the Yoruba race.

He added that “evaluation of our festivals revealed that Yoruba culture are now celebrated with high esteem in the entire Yoruba towns. This is the impact that Olokun festival foundation has created.”

Otunba Adams said: “Nigeria has lots of tourist attractions. The problem we have is that we have forgotten our roots and our culture. In Brazil, Ethiopia and many other countries, they have different festivals through which they honor their ancestors. But here, we have allowed civilization to blind our eyes to the need for us to honour and celebrate our mothers.

“Yoruba is one of the most respected tribes in the world and there are millions of Brazilians who are of Yoruba origin. We must not throw away our culture in the name of religion. Our aim is to make sure that we make the Yoruba race a force to reckon with.

The Odua People’s Congress leader explained that the grandmothers’ festival is a call to recognize a hidden treasure in Yoruba culture, “in fact, I can credibly tell you that the festival is a platform to help Nigeria, to use the virtues of the Yoruba greatest women to advocate the pacific ambience we yearn for.”

Otunba Adams said many will be surprise that they are identifying with the sect of women that people see as esoteric beings, “this is because we know that they have crucial roles to play in the restoration of peace n our country.”

He disclosed that the festival is important as a means of getting the blessings of the covens as the witches are also servants of Olodumare, the creator of the Universe.

While thanking the Oba for hosting the festival in his domain, Otunba said the witches are ready to help Nigeria if Nigerians are ready to recognized them.

Delivering a paper at the event, a lecturer at the University of Lagos, Dr. Ademakinwa Adebisi said one of the ways human beings can avoid the wrath of the grandmothers is man’s avoidance of all manners of behaviours that are offensive to the earth.