By Wale Ojo-Lanre Esq
Yes! Something happened yesterday.
And where?
At the Ajero Palace in Ijero-Ekiti — the heartbeat of Ijero Kingdom.
I just have to reveal it.
Yes!
Whether they like it or not, I have a duty to expose what happened at the palace of the Ajero of Ijero to the public.
It was not a coronation.
It was not a fashion parade.
And it was certainly not another gathering for mere merriment.
The truth is that the Ajero of Ijero Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, had summoned his people, chiefs, community leaders and distinguished personalities and invited the media to his palace for a press conference on the Ita Ajero Festival 2026.
And Kabiyesi had a story to tell.
Indeed, he opened the vault of history and exposed dimensions of Ita Ajero that many people — even within Yorubaland — may never have known.
A story deeper than drums.
Older than costumes.
Greater than dancing.
It was the story of Ita Ajero — its place in Yoruba history, its connection with the ancient consultative tradition of Yoruba monarchs and why Ijero Kingdom is determined to transform that history into a living cultural heritage and tourism product.
Before journalists, chiefs, academics, community leaders and other guests, the Ajero peeled away the contemporary glamour surrounding Ita Ajero and journeyed into history.
His message was unmistakable:
“ITA AJERO IS NOT A FASHION PARADE.”
According to the monarch, Ita Ajero traces its historical significance to the ancient royal consultative tradition in Ile-Ife, where crowned Yoruba monarchs — the Oba Alade — converged periodically to deliberate on matters affecting the Yoruba race.
Those royal gatherings were not ceremonial jamborees.
They were serious assemblies of leadership, consultation and collective responsibility, where monarchs who traced their progenitors to Ile-Ife assessed the condition of the Yoruba race, deliberated on challenges confronting the people, identified opportunities and strategised for the peace, unity and advancement of Yorubaland.
Put in today’s management language, Kabiyesi described the exercise as something remarkably similar to a SWOT analysis of the Yoruba race — examining its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
And within that ancient architecture of knowledge and consultation, the Ajero occupied a distinctive position.
“AJERO LO NI IMO.”
Ajero is the custodian of knowledge.
That, Kabiyesi explained, is part of the heritage that modern Ita Ajero seeks to revive, preserve and transmit to generations yet unborn.
Although the tradition reaches far back into Yoruba history, the revived contemporary Ita Ajero Festival enters its third edition on Friday, August 21, 2026.
The monarch also recalled the Houston meeting of Ijero sons and daughters in the diaspora, pointing to the growing determination of Ijero people across the world to reconnect with their roots and contribute to the development of their ancestral homeland.
And then came Kabiyesi’s declaration:
“WE ARE READY TO HOST THE WORLD ON AUGUST 21.”
And Kabiyesi did not stop at words.
In a symbolic moment at the press conference, the Ajero formally unveiled the Ita Ajero Festival 2026 brochure, presenting to the public another major promotional instrument for projecting the festival, its history, cultural significance and tourism potential.
The unveiling further underscored Ijero Kingdom’s determination to properly document, package and market Ita Ajero beyond the community — taking its story to tourists, culture enthusiasts, researchers, the media and the wider world.
Oba Adewole expressed profound appreciation to the Ita Ajero Festival Management Council, various associations and socio-cultural groups in Ijero Kingdom, as well as sons and daughters of the town whose collective commitment and support have continued to strengthen the festival.
The monarch said the growing stature of Ita Ajero was a product of communal effort, stressing that the festival belongs to the entire Ijero Kingdom and that its sustainability would continue to depend on the unity, cooperation and active participation of the people.
He particularly acknowledged the Agba Ijero — the chiefs and elders of the kingdom — for standing firmly behind the traditional institution and supporting progressive initiatives aimed at the peace, development and advancement of Ijero Kingdom.
Kabiyesi prayed for all indigenes of Ijero, both at home and in the diaspora, asking God to grant them prosperity, good health, progress and continued unity.
The Ajero also expressed appreciation to the Governor of Ekiti State, H.E. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, for what he described as the Governor’s sustained support for the palace, Ijero community and the Ita Ajero Festival.
He particularly acknowledged the establishment of the State Polytechnic in Ijero-Ekiti and the provision of infrastructure towards the institution’s take-off as important interventions capable of strengthening education and stimulating economic activities in the town.
The monarch equally commended the State Government’s intervention in reconnecting Ijero to the national electricity grid.
He, however, lamented that the community had yet to enjoy the full benefits of the intervention, expressing dissatisfaction with the electricity distribution company’s service to the town and calling for improvement so that the Governor’s efforts at restoring power supply could translate into reliable electricity for residents.
The Ajero also commended Senator Opeyemi Bamidele for facilitating the establishment of what he described as a first-class intensive care facility at the Ijero hospital.
While appreciating the intervention, the monarch expressed concern over the quality of work being executed by the contractor handling the building and called for appropriate attention to ensure that the project meets the expected standard.
Also speaking at the press conference, Prof. Sammy Afolabi, Ogbon of Ijero, disclosed that the community would use the Ita Ajero Festival to launch an ambitious ₦2 billion pavilion project.
He said the initiative represents part of Ijero’s determination to use the festival not only to celebrate its glorious past but also to mobilise its people, friends and development partners towards tangible community development.
Chief Mrs Mary Oluwayemisi Atilola, Eyelua of Ijero Kingdom, similarly outlined a number of social-impact initiatives associated with the festival, including empowerment programmes targeted at widows, women and schoolchildren.
She said the community was also encouraging and supporting the Miss Ita Ajero Beauty Pageant, explaining that the initiative would go beyond physical appearance by promoting intelligence, cultural knowledge and values among young women.
According to her, the objective is to stimulate intellectual development alongside cultural values and encourage a younger generation that understands, appreciates and takes pride in its heritage.
The Director-General, Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Wale Ojo-Lanre, Esq., who delivered a goodwill message at the press conference, described Ita Ajero Festival as one of Ekiti State’s flagship cultural-tourism assets with significant potential for destination marketing, visitor traffic and local economic development.
He disclosed that the festival had been duly registered with the Bureau in line with the relevant legal provisions of Ekiti State, thereby strengthening institutional collaboration between the festival organisers and the State Government’s tourism authority.
Ojo-Lanre said the Bureau’s involvement was consistent with the vision of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, who had empowered the agency to identify, enhance and give greater visibility to festivals and other tourism assets capable of attracting visitors and generating economic value for communities.
He noted that cultural festivals should no longer be regarded merely as occasions for dancing, dressing and entertainment, but as economic platforms capable of stimulating hospitality, transportation, food and beverage businesses, arts and crafts, entertainment, commerce and employment.
According to him, the Bureau would continue to promote Ita Ajero and other authentic cultural festivals as part of the broader effort to position Ekiti as an increasingly competitive cultural-tourism destination.
So, what really happened at the Ajero Palace yesterday?
History spoke.
Heritage came alive.
Ijero opened its doors.
And the message from the palace was unmistakable:
WE ARE READY TO HOST THE WORLD ON AUGUST 21.
The Ita Ajero Festival 2026 holds on Friday, August 21, 2026, at Ita Ajero, Ijero-Ekiti.
IJERO BECKONS!
I will be there.
…AND YOU?
