BY BUKOLA BARDI & GANIYU AGBELUSI
Ketewa Cultural Festival, which focuses on the display of Idanre’s rich Arts and culture has kicked off in the ancient town of Atosin Idanre with the traditional game of Ayo Opon.
The game was played at the palace of Awosunye of Atosin Idanre, Oba Gilbert Ogunlowo.
The monarch in company of his chiefs lauded the idea of Ketewa festival calling on communities within and outside Ondo state to emulate such step towards sustaining culture and traditions of their areas.
Other games lined up for the first day are Arin and Table Tennis.
The second day, Saturday 26th December which happens to be boxing day will feature a marathon race in the morning. The race takes off from Alade Idanre and terminates at Yaba in Odode Idanre.
Arts Seminar with the topic Idanre Oral Literature: Poetry Or Incantations? Is slated for 10am
The event will be chaired by an erudite scholar and High Chief Osoore Of Idanre land, Dr Charles Akinde while Discussants are Chief Ojo Alalabiaye and Mr Ayo Akinmutimi.
Dr Segun Bajulaye of the Ondo State ministry of Culture and Tourism will be the moderator of the seminar which holds at the Reception Hall, Idanre Resort, (ese gbeke) @ 10am.
The third day, Sunday 27th December which is the grand finale features An Evening With The Legend, idanre’s foremost lyricist and woro music maestro, Sir Francis Akintade at 5pm.
Ketewa Night of Beats and Bliss takes the stage at 7pm, incorporating cultural dances, eclectic music performances and traditional poetry recitations like ogboogodo, ola and ogbagba.
It will also be one night for idanre budding musicians to showcase their talents.
Venue is the Methodist High School, Odode Idanre.
The Chairman Planning Committee for Ketewa Festival and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ondo state, Mr Yemi Olowolabi had told positive fm that the whole idea was to sustain unity among idanre people and also prevent the community’s culture and tradition from going into extinction hence the main theme of the festival “Reawakening”.
Olowolabi allayed fear that the festival could suffer sustainability saying it is not about an individual but about a community whose people are determined to constantly project their cultural heritage to the world.
He added that all the programmes lined up for the festival would be held with adherence to Covid-19 protocols
Positive fm Akure is supporting the festival and has been adopted as the official Radio station for the event.