By Gbenga Olarinoye
OSOGBO—The ancient city of Ile Ife was agog, yesterday, as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, performed for the first time the symbolic trip from Ile Oodua, his palace to Oke Mogun shrine, to mark this year’s Olojo Festival.

Olojo Festival, which holds annually, is a major cultural celebration in Ile Ife, to mark creation of the universe and “Are crown” a special crown made of 151 items, worn only during the celebration of the festival by the Ooni.

Oba Ogunwusi, who had been in seclusion for five days appeared for the first time to the public in an all- white apparel. He left his residence for Oke Emese 4:30pm for final rites before he would wear the mystic “Are” crown, were performed.

At exactly 5.00 pm, Oba Ogunwusi emerged with Are crown, holding a white dove, amidst prayers and several gunshots and began the journey to Oke Mogun and Idi Aje, two major ports of call during Olojo Festival, where rituals and prayers were said for the peace of Nigeria and the Yoruba race.

Are crown, which according to sources in Ooni’s palace weighs 100 kg, last made the trip to Oke Mogun several years ago because the late Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuade, owing to his advance dage in last three years of his reign did not wear Are crown even during the celebration of Olojo.

On the procession of Ooni to Oke Mogun were Ife chiefs, priests and members of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, as well as indigenes and tourists from different parts of world.

Before Ooni commenced the trip, his messengers, who wore only shorts, wielding cane, performed the symbolic sprint to Oke Mogun three times to clear the route the monarch would take.