Nigeria's Ojude Oba festival: Culture and colour come out in praise of a king
The women were elegantly turned-out in colourful traditional dresses, known here as iro and buba, along with the gele, or head wrap. Their outfits were made from aso-oke, a locally sourced fabric woven by the Yoruba people.
The sunglasses and hand fans meant to provide respite for the blistering sun were must-have accessories, complementing the looks.
Dressed in traditional Yoruba agbada, the men agree months ahead on what outfits, colour and accessories to use for the festival. Each year, they tweak the style and colour and display. Accessories include matching caps, beads and shoes.
Regardless of social status, the people are classified into age groups known as regbe-regbe, with hundreds belonging to each one. They are aimed at fostering unity among the locals.
The horses were adorned in colourful ornaments of gold and silver. Their riders displayed their prowess and the strength of their horses circling the arena to thunderous applause from spectators. Shots from locally made guns sent white smoke into the air, signalling the arrival of each of the traditional warrior family, known as Balogun or Eleshin.They protected the Ijebu kingdom from external aggression at one time.
The flamboyant parade of culture provides an economic boost to the area as dress makers, weavers, shoe makers, jewellers and others are contracted to make the desired outfits and matching accessories.Additional reporting by Ayo Bello and Kyla Herrmannsen
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