ODUN ORO ASEMON Beyond Festivity: A Journey into Its Timeless Heritage, Purpose, and Significance👌

 ODUN ORO ASEMON

Beyond Festivity: A Journey into Its Timeless Heritage, Purpose, and Significance👌

The Oro Festival is a festival deeply rooted in culture and tradition. It is one of the ancient traditional festivals that our people have celebrated from time immemorial; not only in Isara, but also in many towns across Remo and Yorubaland. 

For our forebears, the festival was an important occasion for the spiritual cleansing of the land and warding off evil that might befall the people and the community. Beyond the spiritual aspect, it also carried messages of love, unity, togetherness, and community development.

In those days, people travelled back to Isara from their various villages and settlements to celebrate the festival with family, friends, and the entire community.

THE RULES AND TRADITIONS

Like many traditional festivals, Oro has its own standards, customs, and rules 🚷.

Both males and females participate in the festival, although I would say the men enjoy the outdoor aspect of it the most. 😜

The festival is particularly sensitive to gender roles 🚻. From Friday night until Sunday morning, the women and ladies remain indoors, while the men are free to move around outdoors and enjoy the festivities.

And guess what?

That is when the women prepare all sorts of delicious food for us! There is usually an abundance of food because your female friends and family members are expecting you to come around, wine and dine with them while they remain indoors.

That is when you would see delicacies such as Ikokore Oro, Eba Oro, Iyan Oro, and orisirisi from the stable of Oro! 😜

“WON TI DAKUDU” — “WON TI LU ALUWO”

As I mentioned earlier, the festival has its standards.

Seven days before the festival, the Kaabiyesi, the Odemo of Isara, would send the town crier around the town to announce that there should be no drumming, partying, loud music, or any form of disturbance throughout the community.

That is what they refer to as:

“Won ti DAKUDU!” or “Won ti lu ALUWO!”

Later today, the women and ladies will retire indoors, while the men, including even a one-year-old boy! 😂 will remain outdoors to have fun and enjoy the festival for as long as it lasts.

EKUTE, WORO/APEPE AND THE PRAISE SINGING

There is always plenty of fun.

The Ekute and Woro/Apepe groups from different parts of the town will move from house to house, singing praises and offering prayers for families.

In return, they expect some coins 🪙.

And that is when you begin to hear:

“Oooroo! Baaba ooo eee,

Ooorooo baba ooo eee!

Ooro baba baba,

Oooroo baba ooo eee!”

Then comes:

“Gbeyin ilekun ko yo owo!

Gbeyin ilekun ko yo owo ooo,

Mu run r’oro, k’Oro looo!” 😜🙋

But if the person decides not to give them even a kobo…

They may simply reverse the song and say:

“SHI UWO KUKUN YAWUN!” 😂

…and off they go!

ORO AS A VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY

One of the fascinating aspects of the Oro Festival is that it also serves as an avenue for the community to expose unethical behaviour, wrongdoings, and absurdities among its people.

Everyone who has done something wrong during the year can be given a “number.” and that's one of the interesting parts of the celebration because even sons and daughters at home and abroad are always looking forward to the updates. 

And believe me, even the King is not exempt! 😂

If the King does something wrong, this is one of the rare occasions when someone can tell him directly to his face and, interestingly, he may even appreciate it by spraying money! 😎 it’s a festival of love and unity.

Chiefs and other prominent members of the community can also receive their own special “numbers” every year. But it is not only about criticism.

The festival also provides an opportunity to celebrate and praise people who have contributed positively to the progress and development of Isara.

If you have done good, you will hear your number.

If you have done bad, you will also hear your number.

It is, in its own way, a traditional mechanism for encouraging good behaviour, promoting accountability, cleansing the land, and reminding everyone to remain responsible and law-abiding members of the community.

ISARA, MY HOMETOWN ❤️

Oh, my dear hometown, Isara Remo!

The three-day celebration is usually full of fun, culture, laughter, tradition, and community spirit. I am sure everyone will enjoy it.

In recent years, sons and daughters of Isara living in different parts of the country and beyond have increasingly travelled back home to celebrate the Oro Festival. People now hold their phones everywhere to record the happenings around town. 📱

The mobile phone has practically replaced the tape recorders we used in those days.

But please… DON’T RECORD VIDEO OOO! 😂

If you do and Oro Baba ooo catches you:

“Voo, uvo e ri owun ooo,

Vaa salaye urun re soe sioo!” 🤣🤣🤣

Oro baba ooo… no dey play oooo! 😎

CONGRATULATIONS, ISARA REMO

I want to warmly congratulate Kabiyesi Alaiyeluwa, Oba Peter Oluwole Ogunbayo, Otete III, Odemo of Isara, the Onimales, the Chiefs, the Oniworo from Itun-Ajina and Itun-Abe, the Elekutes, and all the sons and daughters of Isara Remo for the opportunity to witness yet another Oro Festival.

May all the prayers, rites, and propitiations bring forth good tidings, love, unity, peace, progress, and development to Isara Remo.

Isara is our hometown!

Let us continue to explore, celebrate, and rejoice with one another as we move from one festival to another, keeping our culture and traditions alive for generations to come.

Oju gbogbowa lo ma to Osupa Amodun. 🙏

Ilu Isara a sunwon,

A tu dede eni n’ara ooo,

Osi Isara a gbe dede eni ooo,

A ni t’ajo gbe s’ajo. 🙏

Odun Ayo r’ama ma se,

A ni s’odun ninu Ibanuje ooo. 🙏

May Isara continue to prosper.

May peace, unity, love, and development remain with us. May we continue to witness many more festivals in joy and good health.

Thank you all.

ISARA AFOTAMODI TO THE WORLD! 🌍

God bless us all. 🙏

🖊️ ’Lanre Fidelity

Omo Afotamodi Kogun Ma Wolu

Friday, 11th September, 2026.