Traditional pomp and cultural pride were on full display in Isinkan on Thursday as the ancient town celebrated the annual Oriperi Festival, a revered ceremony during which chiefs and titled elders paid homage to the Iralepo of Isinkan, Oba Oluwagbemiga Olofin-Adimula (Arulewolasi III).
The age-long tradition, held within the royal courtyard at Ita-Owa, Isinkan saw various groups of chiefs, lineage heads, and community leaders arrive in full traditional regalia to reaffirm their allegiance to the monarch.
The symbolic procession, which featured chants, drumming, and presentation, reflects the enduring structure and spiritual depth of the Isinkan chieftaincy institution.
Oba Olofin-Adimula, seated in majesty, received each delegation with dignity and offered royal blessings to all present, praying for peace, good health, and progress for Chiefs, individuals, families, and the entire kingdom.
In a keynote message during the ceremony, the Iralepo, Oba Olofin-Adimula emphasized the importance of unity and collective responsibility in sustaining the growth and development of Isinkan.
“Let us continue to uphold the values that bind us. Only in peace can we experience lasting development and prosperity,” the monarch said. “I call on all indigenes of Isinkan, at home and in the diaspora, to work together in love and mutual respect.”
The monarch also urged the younger generation to take pride in their heritage, assuring that the palace would continue to champion initiatives that promote education, economic empowerment, and cultural preservation.
The Oriperi Festival, passed down through generations, remains one of Isinkan’s most significant cultural events.
This year’s edition featured traditional dances, praise renditions, and rituals that drew large crowds from within and beyond the town.
The royal blessings and messages of hope from Oba Oluwagbemiga Olofin-Adimula resonated across the community, reaffirming the monarch’s role as not just a traditional ruler, but a spiritual father and symbol of unity for the people of Isinkan.
