The 7th edition of Nmode Mosu Aro day wore a very colorful scenery as the sons and daughters of Igbaja town in Ifelodun local government area, Kwara State.
Igbaja is one of the major towns in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State and is located approximately 56kms north-east of Ilorin, the state capital; and north-east of Ajase-Ipo.
This spatial distance is obtained by taking Ilorin-Ajase-Igbaja road. An alternative route is the Ilorin-Idofian-Igboowu-Igbaja road, measuring a distance of 20kms between Igbaja and Idofian through Igboowu, and 22kms from Idofian to Ilorin.
Like the history of most Nigerian ancient towns and cities, and indeed, African traditional settlements, that of Irese is replete with the paradox of migration: adventure, authority, power, fame, and even economic advantage, brought about by better endowed territories and spheres of influence, sometimes, far removed from their aboriginal enclaves. The Ireses are historically a group of people of Igbomina stock. History suggests that Igbomina people occupy most part of the north-east of Yorubaland and are originally descendants of Oranyan from the east of Oyo
The first man to settle in Igbaja was Madanga, also called Akusi, a Nupe hunter who settled at Isalegbaja on the peak of Ayodi Hill. He was accompanied by a number of followers and majority of inhabitants of Ogbe area and Sawo compound in Igbaja as well as Atanbati and Elefun compounds, who today claim to be descendants of Akusi.
Although a school of thought argues that Akusi was the real founder of Igbaja, it does appear that as a nomadic hunter, Akusi did not plan to perfect the processes for founding any settlement as he was always on the move hunting for animals from one location to another. Even traditions of origin in Ireseland maintain that after Oyo immigrants had settled, they prevailed on Akusi not to relocate to another area but reside with them because of the friendship they had already cultivated. Besides, settlements of Igbaja did not have their origin at Isalegbaja but Afin where the leader of Oyo-Ile immigrants first settled.
For the many brave men of Ireseland who are born warriors and defenders of their territorial heritage, hunting is an occupation that lends credence to their identity as Yoruba-Igbomina with natural military instincts. Taking advantage of the vast forests and serene ecosystems, the professional hunters practically live on animals killed during specially coordinated expeditions. Some still do!
The origin of hunting in Ireseland is traceable to the founders of the four communities, most of whom were brave hunters, with genealogical traits as far back as 1800 and 1900AD. Some of the hunters used dogs to hunt; others used bows and arrows while the rest used Dane guns. In fact, the people were so brave that one of the Eleses who reigned at a time was known as ‘Adiye L’efon laaye’, meaning: “He who fixes the price of buffaloes before they are hunted; Hence, we have festival to commemorate the deep cultural heritage of our great town by the name NMODE MOSU ARO Festival which can be translated as {Children of Hunters, Children of Isu Aro Festival}.
This festival usually takes place triennially to remind the sons and daughter of Igbaja home and abroad about their rich cultural heritages and to also encourage them to pass the culture on to their children and the generations next to them.
The 7th edition of NMODE MOSU ARO day takes place on the 9th of July, 2022 and it was such a colorful celebration as Igbaja great sons and daughters across the world gathered to celebrate their ancestral heritages.
Meanwhile the custodian of the festival and the host is usually the reigning traditional head of Igbaja and this year is not an exemption as our traditional head; His Royal Highness Oba Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Awuni Babalola Arepo II added spices to the serenity of the festival as He implores every son and Daughter of Igbaja to always remember their source and deep cultural heritages.
His Royal Highness, Oba Awuni also charged the sons of Igbaja living far from home to look back, come home and invest towards the development of their root, buttressing his remark by saying “No matter how glamourous a voyage might be, there will never be a place like home.
He closed his remarks by thanking God Almighty for the success of this year’s edition of NMODE MOSU ARO festival and he also showered his people with royal blessings.
Top dignitaries across the globe including successful sons and daughters all over the world had a very swell experience at the just concluded NMODE MOSU ARO festival.
All Igbaja sons and daughters, may your walls be fortified against your enemies and may you always prevail (AMEN).
