OYO STATE- As the planning and the preparation for the maiden edition of the Ibarapa Drum Festival continue to gather momentum, Oyo State Government has thrown its weight behind the festival.

The festival with the theme, “Drumming for Cultural Rejuvenation”, will take place in Ibarapa land.

While acknowledging the receipt and acceptance of the invitation to the festival by Aborode Oyeniyi, convener of the prestigious festival, Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon Wasiu Olatunbosun said “I am delighted to express my support and endorsement for the upcoming festival.”

“I also wish to salute your sense of bravery, intelligence, and enthusiasm geared toward the revival of African culture and Yoruba cultural heritage. I am proud of you and your team for this noble and legendary initiative aimed at revamping our indigenous tradition and culture. Ibarapa holds a special place in African drums as ibarapa born Sikiru Adepoju received a Grammy Award with Yoruba drum, he said.”

The Convener, Aborode Oyeniyi in response said “Tourism is the world’s largest growth industry with no signs of slowing down in the 21st century. In order to attract its share of this growing market, the Ibarapa region of Oyo State needs to add to its already exciting list of events. Ibarapa Drum Festival is designed to grow into an international festival that will attract people from around the globe. As such, it is one of the few annual events in Oyo State with the potential of a global reach and is geared at becoming a regular fixture on the international festival tourism circuit. Ibarapa Drum Festival is unique. It will help put the vision of the Oyo State – which identifies tourism as one of the engines for economic growth in Nigeria – into practice.

Also present at the meeting were Ayanrinde Opeyemi MC Swagger and Adelowo Micheal Coded

Ibarapa?

That name sounds familiar