It was a day of colour, rhythm, and deep tradition as the ancient community of Isinkan in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State celebrated this year’s Oluroko Festival, an event that blended sacred rites with the infectious joy of communal togetherness.
The day began in the early hours, when, in keeping with age-old tradition, the Olisa of Isinkan (Oteru-Oba Ode), High Chief Kayode Oluyi – the second-in-command to the Iralepo of Isinkan, visited Ita-Owa.
There, the monarch of the ancient town, Oba Oluwagbemiga Ajimokunola Olofin-Adimula (Arulewolasi III) presented a fowl and kola nuts as offerings for the worship of Oluroko. These items, sacred and symbolic, were given on behalf of the entire kingdom, underscoring the communal nature of the festival’s prayers.
From there, the procession to the sacred grounds at Igbo Ijaro In Isinkan began. In line with tradition, everyone qualified to climb the hilltop site of the Oluroko shrine wore their clothes turned inside out, a symbolic gesture of humility and reverence before the ancestors.
The lively atmosphere was further charged by traditional drummers, whose pulsating beats echoed through the community, and youths playfully caning one another, a ritual act associated with the festival’s energy and communal spirit.
In strict adherence to custom, no strangers or female children are allowed into the Oluroko shrine – not even princes or princesses of Isinkan.
At the shrine, a dog used for worship was cooked on-site and completely eaten by qualified adherents, sealing the sacred rites for the year.
After the worship, friends and well-wishers were treated to traditional delicacies, with palm wine flowing generously in celebration of unity and heritage.
High Chief Oluyi described the festival as both a prayer and a celebration.
“The Oluroko Festival is our way of seeking peace, prosperity, and continuous development for Isinkan. It is a joyful reunion of our people with our traditions and our Creator,” he said.
The festival carries an important symbolic rule: on this day, the Olisa must not visit the Iralepo’s palace, a reminder of the distinct roles in Isinkan’s traditional leadership.
As the Oluroko celebrations ended, attention turned to tomorrow, when the Olisa will host the New Yam Festival, another significant cultural event that unites the people of Isinkan in gratitude and festivity.
