Ijakadi Festival Explained

Ijakadi Festival
Language:	Yoruba
Meaning:	Local Wrestling
Region:	Northern Region, Nigeria

Ijakadi is an annual cultural festival in Offa, Kwara state, Nigeria. It aims to promote Nigeria's rich culture on international tourism map.^{[1] [2]}

The word 'Ijakadi' literally means 'wrestling' which has a significant role in the history of Offa.The festival targets to bridge the gap of rapid erosion of cultural values in the society in order to promote it's cultural traits that have served as the identity of Offa community.^[3]

It also aims to promot fairness, justice, and equity among all sons and daughters of the ancient town.^[4]

According to Ifedayo Ogunyemi, the community sons and daughters including those in the diaspora, expressed their determination towards promoting the annual Ijakadi festival of the ancient town, both within and outside the country, to enhance the socio-economic development of Offa and its people.^{[5] [6]}

Celebrations

During the festival, people come from different walks of life to celebrate. The festival usual takes place annually in December.The people of Offa put on traditional clothes and their masquerades dancing and drumming including mock wrestling between olofa of Offa and the higest chief Essa.

Significance of the festival

The community believe that the festival would promote love and communal bond that can transform the festival into a global event and promote socio-cultural development.^{[7] [8]}

Notable individuals who have earlier attended the festival includes

• AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the executive governor of Kwara State. He bagged the title aree Soludero of Offa during the 8th edition of Ijakadi Festival in 2019.^[9]
• Lai Mohammed, the former Minister of Culture and Tourism attended the 2017 edition, and disclosed that Ijakadi Festival would be included in National Festival calendar.^{[10] [11]} He also said the "Federal Government was working with the private sector to make major festivals in the country attractive to domestic and foreign tourists and to leapfrog the events to the top cadre of global festivals."^[12]
• Adebayo Shittu was the former Nigerian Minister of Communications between 2011 and 2019 under former President Muhammadu Buhari. Shittu succeeded Omobola Johnson as Minister of Communication and succeeded by Isa Ali Pantami. The former Minister attended the 2017 edition of the program along the former Minister of culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed.^[12]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2024 . Ijakadi Festival will promote Nigeria .
2. News: 2024 . Ijakadi begins on Monday in offa . Daily Nigerian.
3. News: 2024 . Ijakadi Festival set to tackle cultural erosion .
4. Web site: Ogunyemi . Ifedayo . 2019-12-29 . Ijakadi festival aimed at promoting equity ― Olofa . 2024-10-31 . Tribune Online . en-GB.
5. Web site: Ijakadi festival to promote socioeconomic devt in Offa . 2024-10-31 . www.ilorin.info.
6. impact of ijakadi festival on socio-cultural development of offa . ResearchGate.
7. https://radionigeria.gov.ng/2022/12/29/ijakadi-festival-demonstrates-love-communal-bond-lai/
8. Web site: Adebayo . Abdulrazaq . 2023-11-03 . Kwara community moves to transform 'Ijakadi' into global festival . 2024-10-31 . Daily Post Nigeria . en-US.
9. Web site: You are being redirected... . 2024-10-31 . kwarastate.gov.ng.
10. Web site: Anyanwu . Samuel . 2018-01-01 . 'Ijakadi Festival' to be included in National festival calendar - Minister . 2024-10-31 . Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation . en-US.
11. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/12/ijakadi-festival-included-national-festival-calendar-lai-mohammed/
12. Web site: Anyanwu . Samuel . 2016-11-17 . Minister hails revival of centuries-old festival, promises support . 2024-10-31 . Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation . en-US.