The Apeju of Ilupeju Ekiti, HRM, David Sunday Awe Akingbade on Saturday, 29th July offered prayers for peace, progress, rapid development of Ilupeju Ekiti, wellbeing of Sons and daughters of the town, home and abroad and all inhabitants of the Ilupeju Ekiti to be successful in their endeavours.
Apeju offered the prayers at ‘uduto’ Menara market to mark the festival of eating yam in Ilupeju Ekiti where male inhabitants of the town gathered in a carnival like to partake in the prayer session.
Ilupeju tradition vested the Elegbe of Menara Market who is the custodian of the market and the two Alamoekus from Eseta and Egosi to lead the prayers while Apeju gave his Royal blessing to all and sundries.
In an interview, the Elegbe of Menara Market, Chief Micheal Alonge, said it’s imperative to offer prayers at uduto Menara market before Apeju starts eating yam and before yams can be brought into Menara market for sale. He added that prayers offered are directly answered by gods of the land.
The Elegbe called on all sons and daughters of Ilupeju Ekiti home and abroad to support the yearly festival which Oba David Sunday Awe Akingbade has modernized, Being his first on the throne.
Also, the Alamoeku of Ilupeju Ekiti, Chief Awofemi Agbanifa, Agunloja Aita of Ilupeju relayed the history of the yam festival. He solicited unflinching support of all sons and daughters of Ilupeju Ekiti to support the monarch for peace and development of the town.
Chief Awofemi who frown at the increasing rate of crime in Nigeria however charged Ilupeju subjects home and abroad to shun social vices that can drag their names and the town in the mud.
Speaking in the same way was the Eyelobinrin of Ilupeju Ekiti, Chief Mrs Florence Fasanmi
According to Pastor Olu Olosunde “The festival of yam eating is done to thank orisa (gods) for the fertility of the land for crowning efforts of their previous planting season.The festival marks the end of a season of work and the beginning of a new season”
The high point of the festival was that Apeju of Ilupeju Ekiti, the Apeju in -Council and all sons and daughters of the town danced from uduto Menara Market through Apata-aje to iyana- ire Junction to Apeju’s palace where a life band( SIROMA) has been stationed to entertain all and sundries as they eat yam with garden egg, pounded yam with vegetable and chilled palm wine.
At the palace, Apeju, his wife, Obanla and wife, Apeju in Council, all Chief,and all age groups were called one after the other to dance in appreciation for witnessing 2023 Eating yam festival.
Many of the inhabitants were glad for the festival, praying God to spare them to witness many fruitful years on Earth in sound health .
In preparation for the festival, farmers in the town were said to have gathered tubbers of yams through their Olojas to the palace while on Friday, wifes
Of the two ruling houses in the town had took tubers of yam into Menara market in a cultural way which signalled that traders can sell tubers of yam in the market after kabiyesi offered prayers at the Market.
Some the neighbouring Kings joined Apeju in his palace to celebrate 2023 festival and commended him for promoting the culture of Ilupeju Ekiti.
