2024 Egungun Festival: Olowu of Kuta calls for religious tolerance among Nigerians
By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
The Olowu of Kuta Kingdom, Osun State, Oba (Dr) Hammed Adekunle Makama Oyelude (Tegbosun III), has appealed to all Nigerians to be tolerant of other people’s religion as according to him, there is only one God.
Oba Oyelude made this appeal while addressing people at this year “Egungun Festival” of the ancient town on Saturday in his palace.
The Olowu of Kuta who was highly elated said, as the royal father of all religions and as a leader who championed peaceful coexistence worldwide, there was no reason why his community should be in turmoil.
Oba Oyelude who noted that there was no reason why people of different faiths should not live peacefully in tolerance added that the two major faiths including traditional worshippers had coexisted peaceful in ages past and that there should not be hostilities between them now.
The Olowu of Kuta who congratulated the Egungun worshippers of his town for witnessing this year festival described Nigeria’s annual Egungun festival as a centuries old Yoruba tradition, and one of the most colourful cultural celebrations in West and Central Africa.
The famous Olowu of Kuta was campaigning to raise the tourism appeal of the annual festival. “Yoruba culture is the most beautiful in the world, it will continue and we traditional rulers will not allow anybody to destroy it as I am dedicating this year Egungun festival to every Nigerians as a whole while I am using this medium to warn the celebrants not to foment trouble during and after the festival” he says.
People from all walks of life including traditional rulers, cream of politicians, well wishers and residents gathered together at the Olowu’s palace to celebrate the annual Egungun festival with Oba Oyelude and his Oloris.