Isese Day: Laide Bakare, others attends the 2024 Udiroko festival in Ekiti, Video goes viral

• The Udiroko festival is scheduled for Wednesday, August 21 in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state, during the Isese Day celebration.

• Some western Nigerian governors have declared Tuesday, August 20 as this year’s Isese Day, granting civil servants a holiday in their respective states.

• The Udiroko festival, featuring Yoruba actors Yomi Fash Lanso, Laide Bakare, Shola Kosoko, and Foluke Daramola, is gaining popularity online.

• Udiroko, a 1310 festival under Oba Awamaro, commemorates the first meeting of Ado Ekiti’s ancestors after a long journey from Benin, named after the first celebration under an Iroko tree.

The Udiroko festival for this year is scheduled to occur on Wednesday, August 21, in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, coinciding with the celebration of Isese Day.

Legit.ng previously reported that several governors in Nigeria’s western region have designated Tuesday, August 20, as Isese Day, thereby granting a holiday to civil servants in their respective jurisdictions.

Images and videos from this year’s Udiroko festival are beginning to surface on social media. A video posted on the festival’s Instagram account features well-known Yoruba actors, including Yomi Fash Lanso, Laide Bakare, Shola Kosoko, and Foluke Daramola, who are currently in Ekiti State for the occasion.

The festival, which originated in 1310 during the reign of Oba Awamaro, represents the inaugural gathering of the ancestors of Ado Ekiti upon their arrival in the town after a lengthy journey from Benin. The name Udiroko is derived from the location of its first celebration, which took place beneath an Iroko tree at the palace of the then reigning Oba.

In 2022, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, refuted claims that the Udiroko festival is associated with idolatry.

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A post shared by EMIRALTY AFRICA (@emiraltyafrica)

Udiroko got its name from where it was first celebrated which was under an iroko tree at the palace of the then Oba.

It's a Nine days event starting the ground finale is on the 21st of August and they will have their thanksgiving on Sunday.

Follow 👉 What is Nature? Kini iseda pic.twitter.com/jGJnvKUDzH

— Ayod€l€ B@dmu$ (@ayodelebadmus2) August 21, 2024

Reacting to the post…

@easybiddy: “Aunty Shola, the evergreen beauty. We love you.”

@udiroko_festival: “We are happy to have you here to support our very own culture

@udiroko_festival.” adaoranakeem: “Shola Always Beautiful and shine ✨️ May Almighty Allah guide u and continue blessing in your life masha Allah.”