The ancient town of Iju in Akure North Local Government area, Ondo State, came alive over the weekend as indigenes trooped out in colourful attires to celebrate the annual Iná and Opa Festival, locally known as Odun Ina.
The event, steeped in history and tradition, drew natives from far and near, with the streets of Iju’s Iseri, Imun, and Ijigbo quarters bursting into a spectacle of drumming, dancing, and age-old rituals.
According to community elders, the Iná Festival is one of the oldest cultural celebrations in the town, dating back to the very origin of Iju. “This festival belongs to Iseri, Imun and Ijigbo quarters,” an elder said. “It started when Iju was first established and has been handed down from generation to generation.”
While the Iná Festival centres on the symbolic lighting of fire as a sign of renewal and unity, the Opa (staff) procession adds a regal touch, with traditional leaders carrying ornate staffs believed to represent authority and ancestral blessings.
One of the highlights of the celebration was the beating of the Agba Umu drum, a sacred instrument only played once a year during the festival. Its deep, resonant sounds, elders say, call the spirits of the ancestors to join in the celebration and bless the land.
In his royal address, His Royal Majesty, Oba Amos Adelakun Farukanmi JP, the Òkìtì of Iju, expressed joy at the continued preservation of the town’s heritage. “Our culture is our identity,” he declared. “This festival is not just for merriment but for unity, prayers, and the transmission of our values to the younger generation
I urge every son and daughter of Iju, home and abroad, to always remember their roots and contribute to the growth of our land.”
Akure North Local Government Chairman, Hon. Johnson Ogungbolude, told The Hope that the annual event serves not just as a cultural preservation effort but also as a rallying point for community development. “It reminds us of who we are and brings all Iju sons and daughters together.
Beyond the dances and music, it is a time to discuss the future of our community,” he said.
Visitors at the event were treated to local delicacies, folk performances, and displays of traditional wrestling, while elders recounted historical tales to younger generations under the moonlight.
As the festival came to a close, the rhythmic beat of the Agba Umu drum and the glow of the ceremonial fire lingered in the air, a reminder that, for the people of Iju, tradition is not a thing of the past but a living legacy.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
