Entertainment

Ijesa indigene writes Owa Obokun, calls for repositioning of Iwude Ijesa Festival for International recognition

An Ijesa indigene Olufemi Olayinka  Akerele has written open letter to Owa Obokun and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland Oba Clement Adesuyi Haasrup on importance need to reposition Iwude Ijesa festival for International recognition and impact.
Penpushing reports that Akerele in the letter with copy addressed to Iwude Ijesa Planning Committee equally encouraged all stakeholders in culture and tourism as well as all sons and daughters of Ijesaland to embrace the need for reposition of the festival in the interest of all and sundry and Ijesaland in general.
The letter sighted by Penpushing Media told the Adimula of Ijesaland who is Ajimoko 111, emphasising that elevating Iwude Ijesa to global standards is a call to vision and action
“Iwude Ijesa, the royal festival that celebrates our deep-rooted traditions and the timeless heritage of Ijesaland, has stood the test of time as a symbol of unity, royalty, and cultural identity. It is a festival that binds all Ijesa people together, home and abroad, and reconnects us to the values of respect, hospitality, innovation, and communal development”, the letter reads.
“However, in today’s globalized world where culture has become a powerful economic and diplomatic tool, it is time to reimagine and reposition Iwude Ijesa as a festival of international repute, drawing attention not only across Nigeria, but among the global African diaspora, tourists, and culture enthusiasts worldwide”, the letter emphasised
Penpushing further reports that Akerele pointed out key strategies for elevating the festival which he said includes early and strategic planning to start at least 12 months in advance with clearly defined roles, timelines, and deliverables and develop a master plan that includes funding, logistics, media, and cultural programming.
The letter pointed out that these also include establishment of  both a Central Planning Committee and specialized subcommittees (e.g., Logistics, Sponsorship, Security, Media, Protocol, Diaspora Engagement),as well as cultural programming and documentation.
Penpushing also reports that the letter added need for curate a week-long calendar with structured, themed cultural activities, including traditional music, dance, fashion, cuisine, exhibitions, and historical tours, commission the digital documentation of the history, rituals, and meanings of the festival for both educational and promotional purposes.
The letter in same vein identified professional event management as a good factor, partnering  with reputable event planners and cultural consultants who understand both local tradition and global event standards and ensure proper staging, sound, lighting, security, and crowd management to enhance the experience.
Penpushing reports that the letter equally called for tourism and Diaspora engagement, by creating  a Diaspora welcome package with itineraries, hotel partnerships, cultural guides, and transport logistics, as well as collaborate with the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) and embassies to attract foreign attendees.
The letter called on need for sponsorship and branding by developing  a compelling sponsorship proposal and reach out to corporate brands, banks, airlines, and media houses, introduced  festival branding elements: logo, theme song, merchandise, and branded spaces.
Penpushing further reports that it emphasised the relevance of media and digital strategy with launch of official Iwude Ijesa website and social media platforms for promotion, information, and live streaming, as well as engage influencers, bloggers, and heritage content creators to amplify the festival’s visibility.
The letter equally stressed inclusion and youth participation by encouraging them as well as women involvement in planning and performances, introduction of competitions (e.g., art, writing, dance) to stimulate innovation and ownership among younger generations, as well as evaluation and legacy by conducting  a post-event review to assess performance, gather feedback, and improve, which will also pave way for planning of subsequent editions
“Iwude Ijesa must evolve — not by discarding its roots, but by projecting them confidently to the world. As we work toward a more prosperous and unified Ijesaland, let us embrace this opportunity to make Iwude Ijesa not just a festival of the people, but a global showcase of our identity, values, and vision’,the letter reads.
“Let this be our collective legacy to the future generations of Ijesa sons and daughters. A kii fi oju meji wo ogun odun – Let us seize this historic moment with one heart and one purpose”, Akerele wrote
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