OPENING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN, CENTRAL WORKING COMMITTEE, OYO EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATION, AT THE MEDIA CHAT WITH MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AT PALACE OF THE ALAAFIN OF OYO ON WEDNESDAY, 7TH OCTOBER 2026.
Distinguished members of the press, fellow members of the Central Working Committee, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the Central Working Committee, I warmly welcome you to this media interaction.
Let me begin by acknowledging the leadership of His Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, Alaafin of Oyo, whose vision gave birth to the Oyo Empire Day Celebration.
It is important for us to place this on record from the outset: Oyo Empire Day is essentially an initiative of His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo. He conceived the idea of creating an annual platform through which people of Oyo ancestry, wherever they may be, can reconnect with their roots, celebrate our shared heritage, and collectively look towards the future.
We, as members of the Central Working Committee, have been privileged by His Imperial Majesty to translate that vision into a practical programme. We therefore consider our assignment not merely a responsibility, but also an opportunity graciously given to us by the Alaafin to contribute to something that we believe can become a lasting institution for Oyo Empire and its people.
Since the inauguration of the Committee, a great deal of work has gone into translating His Imperial Majesty's vision from an idea into a practical and sustainable annual heritage and ancestral-homecoming programme.
Today's interaction provides an opportunity not only to tell you what we are planning, but also to brief you on how far we have come, what we have achieved so far, what visitors should expect and what we hope this initiative will become in the years ahead.
WHY OYO EMPIRE DAY?
This is a fundamental question: What exactly is Oyo Empire Day? Oyo Empire Day is conceived as an annual celebration of Oyo's history, heritage, people, and continuing legacy, with a strong emphasis on reconnecting people of Oyo ancestry who are now dispersed across different communities, states, and countries.
This is the vision His Imperial Majesty has entrusted to us. It is not simply another festival. It is simultaneously a homecoming, a heritage celebration, an educational platform, a cultural showcase, a tourism initiative, and a foundation for future economic and social development.
That explains why we deliberately chose the name Oyo Empire Day rather than simply "Oyo Day." The historical Oyo that we are celebrating was much larger than the geographical boundaries of today's ancient city of Oyo or Oyo State. Its history involved institutions, communities, migrations, settlements, cultural exchanges, and relationships extending far beyond the present boundaries of Oyo. The celebration, therefore, seeks to connect the historical Oyo Empire with contemporary people of Oyo ancestry and with the future.
This is also why we are particularly grateful to His Imperial Majesty for providing royal leadership and the institutional platform for this initiative. The Alaafin's traditional institution provides an important bridge between the historical Oyo Empire and the contemporary generation.
OYO EMPIRE DAY IS NOT AN OYO ATIBA CELEBRATION
Let me make this clear because it is perhaps the question that has been asked most frequently. Oyo Empire Day is NOT an Oyo Atiba celebration. Oyo Atiba is an important part of contemporary Oyo Empire history, and we acknowledge that history. But His Imperial Majesty's vision for Oyo Empire Day is considerably broader.
We are reaching out to people and communities with Oyo ancestry across Kwara, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos, Kogi, other parts of Nigeria, Republic of Benin, and, as well as the wider diaspora. We are talking about people whose ancestors moved from the various historical centres of Oyo and established communities elsewhere centuries ago. His Imperial Majesty's vision is to provide a platform where these dispersed people can reconnect with the ancestral homeland.
Our message to them is simple: Wherever your ancestors went, there remains a historical connection worth understanding, preserving, and celebrating. This is why the celebration is an ancestral homecoming, not merely a town festival.
And it is important to stress that this is not about bringing those communities under ancient city of Oyo Atiba or taking away their individual identities. Ilaro remains Ilaro, Arigidi Akoko remains Arigidi Akoko, Akesan (Lagos State) Remains Akesa, Modakeke remains Modakeke, Ede remains Ede, Saki remains Saki, Igboho remains Igboho, Jebba remains Jebba, Ibadan remains Ibadan, Ogbomoso remains Ogbomoso, Porto Novo remains Porto Novo, Oyo-Atiba remains Oyo-Atiba, etc. We are celebrating historical connections, not imposing identities.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE SINCE THE INAUGURATION?
Since His Imperial Majesty inaugurated and gave us this assignment, the Central Working Committee has embarked on extensive mobilization and coordination.
We have established specialized committees covering media, finance, sponsorship, protocol, heritage, diaspora mobilization, digital communication, and other aspects of the celebration.
We have engaged traditional institutions, community organizations, cultural groups, family compounds, youth groups, professionals, diaspora networks, corporate interests, security agencies, and other stakeholders.
One of the most important aspects of our mobilization has been the engagement of the Baale, Baale, and ancestral family compounds in the ancient city of Oyo.
More than 100 ancestral family compounds have already been sensitized to the homecoming concept. The expectation is that these compounds will not merely watch visitors arrive; they will receive their kith and kin whose ancestors left Oyo generations ago.
For example, if members of the Osi Efa families from Epe or Akesan Town in Lagos State return to Oyo during the celebration, they should be able to locate their ancestral compound and receive a warm welcome from the family. This is precisely the kind of reconnection His Imperial Majesty envisaged when he conceived the idea of an Oyo ancestral homecoming.
To make this easier, we are planning a large identification map/banner in front of the Palace, showing the names and locations of the ancestral family compounds in the ancient city of Oyo. This will assist returning families and visitors in navigating the town and locating their ancestral homes. We want to turn the word "homecoming" into a practical experience.
THREE DAYS, THREE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES
We have deliberately structured the celebration so that participants will not be static in one location throughout the three days. The Committee has designed the programme so that every corner of Oyo should come alive with one activity or another, while the Central Working Committee will have a major flagship activity each day.
This approach is also consistent with the vision of making Oyo itself the stage for the celebration, rather than confining everything to one venue.
DAY ONE – THE GRAND CARNIVAL-LIKE PROCESSION
The first day will begin with a carnival-like procession from Owode, which will terminate at the Palace of the Alaafin. This procession will bring Oyo's cultural heritage into the streets.
There will be displays of cultural activities associated with Oyo settlements, including Gelede performances, Egungun dances, Ṣẹ̀kẹrẹ, Dùndún, Bàtá, Ìjálá, horse riding, and several other traditional performances and displays. The objective is to create a spectacular but authentic expression of pan-Oyo's cultural heritage.
At the Palace, Iku Baba Yeye will formally declare the celebration open. This moment will be particularly significant because it will be His Imperial Majesty, whose vision gave birth to the celebration, formally opening the maiden edition before the people whose heritage we are celebrating.
Day One will also feature a particularly exciting historical presentation: the appearance of at least the first five Alaafins in their royal forms, represented by top artists dressed and presented as closely as available historical records allow us to reconstruct their appearance.
This is not intended to substitute entertainment for history. Rather, it is an attempt to use creative presentation to help people see history as a living experience.
Another major attraction will be a replica of Oyo-Ile, the historic capital of the Oyo Empire. The replica will be mounted in the open space within the Palace complex and will remain throughout the three days. Visitors, including tourists, will have an opportunity to "tour" the replica and gain a visual appreciation of the splendour and organization of Oyo-Ile as the capital of the empire. We believe this can become one of the most important educational and tourism features of the celebration.
DAY TWO – HISTORY, SCHOLARSHIP, THEATRE AND YOUTH
The second day will place greater emphasis on knowledge, history, and intellectual engagement. There will be lectures and colloquia involving scholars and knowledgeable custodians of Oyo history.
His Imperial Majesty has consistently emphasized the importance of reconnecting Oyo with their heritage. We believe that such reconnection must be based not only on celebration but also on knowledge and understanding.
We therefore want the celebration to encourage serious discussion about Oyo history, including the relationship between oral traditions, written records, archaeology, and academic research. We recognize that historical interpretations can differ. We do not intend to impose one narrative. Rather, we want to create a platform where evidence can be examined and discussed.
And this is another reason why His Imperial Majesty's initiative is important: it gives scholars, traditional authorities, artists, and the wider public a common platform on which Oyo history can be examined, discussed, and transmitted to future generations.
Day Two will also see the continuation of the hosting of returning kins by their ancestral family compounds.
One of the major activities for the second day will be Ajagunla, the epic historical theatre work associated with the late Duro-Ladipo, presenting the historical episode in which the Alaafin directed the Olugbon, Onikoyi, Aresa, and Ajagunla to confront the Ibarubas who were causing distress to Ekiti communities. The presentation will give audiences an opportunity to encounter history through theatre.
We are particularly interested in the role of young people. There will be a range of youth-oriented programmes during the second day, culminating in a performance by a well-known international musician of Oyo ancestry.
We want young Oyo people to see their heritage not as something confined to old books, palaces, or traditional ceremonies, but as something that can inspire creativity, entertainment, enterprise, and innovation.
DAY THREE – THE GRAND FINALE
The third day will be the grand finale at the Durbar Stadium. It will feature a major royal, cultural, social, family, and community parade, bringing together the different dimensions of the celebration. The objective
is to provide a fitting conclusion to three days of history, culture, family reconnection, scholarship, entertainment, and tourism.
THE AMALA, AṢỌ ÒFÌ AND OTHER OYO CIVILIZATION EXPERIENCES
Throughout the three days, there will also be important side attractions. We want visitors to experience Oyo beyond the Palace.
One is the Amala Oyo Pavilion, where visitors will have the opportunity to experience what we regard as the authentic Oyo taste of Amala and its traditional accompaniments.
Participants will also have opportunities to visit local Aṣọ Òfì production sites, meet the people involved in the craft, and see how this important aspect of our cultural heritage is produced. In other words, we want people to eat Oyo, wear Oyo, see Oyo, hear Oyo, learn Oyo, and experience Oyo. This holistic approach reflects the broader vision His Imperial Majesty has given us.
WHY HISTORY AND SCHOLARSHIP ARE IMPORTANT
One of the misconceptions we want to correct is that Oyo Empire Day is simply about entertainment. It is not. We want our children and grandchildren to know where we came from, what we inherited and what we should preserve.
The historical Oyo Empire eventually declined as a political structure, but Oyo itself did not disappear. Political structures can disappear while people, language, institutions, traditions, artistic expressions, memories and cultural practices continue. That continuity is part of what we are celebrating.
We will therefore distinguish between historical evidence and oral tradition, while respecting both. And where scholars disagree, disagreement should not frighten us. It should encourage further research.
WHAT OYO EMPIRE DAY IS NOT
Let me also address some misconceptions. Oyo Empire Day is not a political rally. It is non-partisan. It is not an attempt to recreate the Oyo Empire as a political entity. It is not about claiming that Oyo people are superior to other Yoruba groups. It is not a competition with other Yoruba festivals. It is not about claiming ownership of every Yoruba cultural tradition. And it is certainly not about suggesting that one version of history must be accepted without examination. It is about heritage, identity, scholarship, reconnection, and development. We believe every Yoruba community has a history worthy of respect, just as we believe Oyo has a legitimate right to celebrate its own historical contribution.
RECONNECTING WITH THE CAPITALS AND HISTORIC LANDSCAPES OF THE OYO EMPIRE
Let me also emphasis that, in furtherance of His Imperial Majesty, Alaafin Owoade’s vision of making our history and cultural heritage a living resource for education, tourism, and economic development, the community is developing a structured heritage-tourism programme as part of the Oyo Empire Day Celebration.
The initial programme will feature guided excursions for interested participants to the two historic capitals of the Empire—Oyo-Igboho and Oyo-Ile. At Oyo-Igboho, participants will visit the remnants of the ancient defensive walls and the burial grounds associated with four Alaafins who ruled from that capital, while at
Oyo-Ile, they will be taken to locations where remnants and artefacts of the old imperial city can still be found. The tours will be properly organized around historical interpretation and cultural education, so that participants do not merely visit these places but understand their significance to the history of the Oyo Empire.
As the celebration grows in the years ahead, this heritage-tourism component will be expanded systematically to incorporate other Oyo-related towns, settlements, and historic sites, creating a wider network of destinations connected to the history of the Empire. In this way, Alaafin Owoade’s initiative will help transform the annual celebration into an enduring platform for heritage preservation, historical education, cultural reconnection, and tourism development.
INCLUSIVITY
The celebration is deliberately inclusive. Oyo Empire history has accommodated different religious and cultural traditions over time. Therefore, Christians, Muslims and practitioners of traditional African religions are all part of the broader Oyo Empire story. Women, young people, professionals, traditional institutions, diaspora communities and cultural organizations are not spectators. They are stakeholders. One of the focusses of the CWC is to ensure that culture does not become mere entertainment. That is why performances are combined with lectures, colloquia, exhibitions, historical presentations, documentation and heritage initiatives.
THE LONG-TERM VISION
We are not planning these three days simply to have a successful event and then pack everything away. The real test of success will be what remains after December.
Can we build a network of Oyo-related communities? Can we strengthen historical research? Can we preserve family history? Can we improve tourism? Can we create opportunities for local businesses? Can we attract young people to heritage? Can we develop museums and permanent heritage attractions? Can we establish a platform that the diaspora will return to every year? These are the bigger questions.
The proposed Museum of Yoruba Culture and Civilization and Oyo Empire Day Hall of Fame, for example, are part of the broader vision of creating permanent institutions through which heritage can be preserved and future generations educated.
Our ambition is that in ten or twenty years, Oyo Empire Day will have developed into a major annual homecoming with national and international participation, supported by strong heritage institutions, scholarship, tourism infrastructure and tangible benefits for local communities.
INSTITUTIONALIZING OYO EMPIRE DAY AS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION
Let me also formally inform you that, in furtherance of the vision of His Imperial Majesty, the Central Working Committee (CWC) is implementing a clear annual scheduling policy to ensure the sustainability, continuity, and proper institutionalization of the Oyo Empire Day Celebration.
Accordingly, the Oyo Empire Day Celebration shall be held annually on the third Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of December. This fixed scheduling arrangement is intended to provide certainty and consistency, allowing the people of Oyo, visitors, partners, stakeholders, and members of the public to plan and participate in the celebration each year.
While the dates are fixed as part of the annual calendar, the programme of activities may be reviewed and improved from year to year to reflect emerging needs, lessons learnt, and new opportunities. This approach will enable the celebration to evolve progressively while maintaining the continuity and core vision established by His Imperial Majesty.
Our objective is therefore not only to organize a successful celebration each year, but to establish the Oyo Empire Day Celebration as a sustainable, enduring, and internationally recognized annual cultural event.
THE ECONOMIC DIMENSION
Heritage can also be an economic asset. If properly developed, increased visitation can create opportunities for hotels, restaurants, transport operators, artisans, farmers, performers, tour operators, photographers, fashion designers and other local businesses.
That is why we are inviting corporate organizations and businesses to come on board. This is not merely a request for sponsorship. It is an invitation to participate in a pan-Oyo heritage initiative with long-term cultural and economic potential.
We are mobilizing stakeholders across the board, including the security agencies and the media, because an event of this scale requires collective responsibility.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE EXPECTING?
As a maiden edition, we are currently envisaging an average attendance of approximately 20,000 people per day. But we recognize that many people of Oyo ancestry who would love to participate may not have been reached in time for this first edition.
That is understandable. Oyo Empire Day is an annual celebration. Therefore, we expect participation to grow progressively as more people and communities discover their ancestral connections, organize themselves and make plans to return in subsequent years. Our ambition is not to gather everyone once. It is to build a sustainable annual homecoming.
OUR MESSAGE TO THE MEDIA
And this brings me to why we have invited you today. The media has a critical role to play in helping the public understand what Oyo Empire Day is and what it is not. We need your professionalism to communicate that this is not simply another three-day entertainment event.
It is an initiative born from His Imperial Majesty's vision to reconnect people with their ancestry, stimulate scholarship, preserve heritage, promote tourism, and create a platform through which Oyo's past can contribute to its future. We also ask the media to help us reach people we may not yet have reached.
There are families in Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Republic of Benin, Togo, and other places who may have heard family stories about Oyo ancestry without ever having had an opportunity to investigate or reconnect with those roots. We want them to know that Oyo is opening its doors. Come home, find your family, meet your kin, learn your history, share your story, and help us build something that will outlive this year's celebration.
A WORD OF APPRECIATION TO HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY
Before I conclude, let me once again place on record our profound appreciation to His Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, for giving us this opportunity to serve. For many of us on the Central Working Committee, this assignment has been both challenging and deeply rewarding.
His Imperial Majesty has provided vision and royal authority; the Committee's responsibility is to mobilize the necessary human and institutional resources to give that vision practical expression. We are conscious that we are not merely organizing an event but helping to lay the foundation for what His Imperial Majesty intends to become an annual institution of ancestral reconnection, heritage preservation, scholarship, tourism, and development. That is a responsibility we do not take lightly.
CONCLUSION
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the essence of Oyo Empire Day can perhaps be captured in one simple message: We are celebrating where we came from, preserving what we inherited, and using that inheritance to build the future. We want to celebrate Oyo without claiming superiority over anyone. We want to remember our history without romanticizing it. We want to respect tradition while encouraging scholarship. We want to welcome our dispersed kin without taking away the identity of the communities where they have lived for generations.
And above all, we want to ensure that the vision entrusted to us by His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, grows beyond a three-day celebration into a lasting network of people and communities connected by Oyo heritage and committed to cultural preservation, research, tourism, youth development, enterprise and mutual development.
That is the vision. That is the work the Central Working Committee has been undertaking since its inauguration. And that is why we are asking the media, corporate Nigeria, traditional institutions, communities, young people, the diaspora and all people of Oyo ancestry to join us in making the Maiden Oyo Empire Day Celebration the beginning of something enduring.
Thank you, and I look forward to your questions and your constructive engagement.
Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola
Chairman, Oyo Empire Day Celebration Central Working Committee 7th October 2026
Source: www.oyoempireday.org
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