…Oba Ogunlaja leads spiritual celebration as Kilajolu masquerade beats king, rain blesses town once again.
In a vibrant fusion of spirituality, heritage, and sheer communal energy, kakalistiq.com reports that the people of Odo-Noforija Kingdom gathered under the guidance of their revered monarch, HRM Alayeluwa Oba Dr. Babatunde Ogunlaja JP FMBE, to celebrate their most sacred tradition – the Eebi/Kilajolu Festival.
Though planned as a low-key, prayerful observance, the overwhelming turnout turned the celebration into a grand spectacle of cultural affirmation. “I didn’t plan an elaborate celebration, I wanted it on a low key with prayers,” the monarch admitted with a smile. “But on getting outside, the crowd I saw was overwhelming. It shows that our prayers are answered, and the Noforija Kingdom is progressing.”
For the people of Odo-Noforija, Eebi/Kilajolu is more than festivity; it is a spiritual obligation. Held annually, this seven-day celebration blends ancestral worship, community prayers, and symbolic rituals that reaffirm the town’s connection to its roots. The most significant day of all is Kilajolu Day, where ancestral masquerades like Okooro and Igodo parade through the town, invoking the presence of ancient spirits and clearing paths for blessings.
In a phenomenon as consistent as clockwork, the morning of the celebration witnessed the arrival of rainfall, a sign that, for the locals, signals divine approval and heavenly comfort. “There isn’t a time we converge for the celebration without the rain on the second morning,” said Oba Ogunlaja. “This is significant, as it points to ease and comfort for all.” This symbolic shower is seen as a blessing from the gods, confirming that the ancestral spirits have received the people’s offerings and prayers.
The Kilajolu masquerade is not merely a cultural figure. It is considered a spiritual enforcer, the second-in-command to the gods, and the embodiment of ancestral justice and power.“The Kilajolu day is the most important day that people take seriously,” Aladeshonyin emphasized. “Prayers for that day are special. It’s not for the faint-hearted… if you’re not resilient about caning and flogging, you don’t come out to celebrate.”
And yet, despite advance warnings, the faithful, both young and old, show up in defiance, ready to embrace the symbolic beatings that are believed to cleanse the body, protect the soul, and attract blessings.
In a striking ritual that confounds outsiders but is deeply revered by the locals, even the king himself is not exempt from the flogging.“When Kilajolu beats the king, who is the head of the town, who else can’t he beat?” quipped the Oba. “He proceeds to the Police Station to beat the DPO, who is the Chief Security Officer and symbolically represents the government. So, who would then make a report that they were beaten by Kilajolu?”
The act is not violent in essence, but symbolic, a powerful reminder that no one is above ancestral discipline, and that humility before tradition is the true path to leadership.
Beyond the theatrics, the festival has come to symbolize a covenant between the people and the gods. And the outcomes, the king said, are not just cultural but measurable. “The prayers we offered last year ushered in so many goodies for the people,” Oba Ogunlaja stated. “Pregnant women delivered safely. There were no records of untimely death or evil incidents in the town.”
He assured his subjects and diaspora kinsmen that this year’s festival would similarly bring miracles, growth, and protection for all who align with the spirit of Kilajolu.
As the masquerades danced through the dusty roads and the drums beat deep into the night, one thing became clear: in Odo-Noforija, tradition is not a relic; it is a living force, guiding the people, protecting the land, and calling them home year after year.
