2023 IYAKE: A FESTIVAL NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN IN A HURRY

Ebika Anthony

Ado-Awaye is a tourist town where Ado Mountain stands with a sprawling head on which it carries tourist attractions like the Ishage Boulder, Elephant Tree, Feet of Elders, Iya Alaro Lake and Iyake Lake amongst others.

In all, Iyake Suspended Natural Lake enjoys more prominence. Therefore, in celebration and promotion of Iyake Lake was why the Alado of Ado-Awaye, Oba (Rev'd) Ademola Olugbile Folakanmi, Makuledoye ll brought about Iyake International Festival in 2021.

This 2023 Iyake Festival which is the third edition, holds from November 14 to 16, 2023. This year, the festival takes an interesting dimension as small and big, young and old are seriously warming up and preparing to participate without any inhibition.

Already, Oba Ademola Olugbile Folakanmi has addressed a press conference with the participation of the Oyo State Ministry of Culture & Tourism as well as the Association of Local Government Chairmen in Oke-Ogun region of Oyo State through the Chair, Hon. Jelili Oyimloye.

According to Mr. Bola Olalere who is the Organising Committee Chairman of 2023 Iyake Festival, the committee is fully ready to deliver a big and successful outing. "Invitation letters and cards to the festival," Olalere said, "have been sent to obas and Yoruba descendants in the West-African subregion and Yoruba descendants in the diasporas."

As arrangements keep progressing, Alade Bello who is the Coordinator of the festival noted that the Organising of Iyake International Festival in 2023, has really fostered unity and harmony amongst the people of Ado-Awaye.

In fact, Ado-Awaye people were happy to sit with the Alado of Ado-Awaye, Oba (Rev'd) Ademola Olugbile Folakanmi, Makuledoye ll to deliberate on how important Iyake is and how to make a huge success of Iyake Festival.

As the 2023 Iyake International Festival draws nigh, other members of the Organising Committee including Babalola Oladayo (Secretary), Mr. Ebika Anthony, Mr. Ibi Sofekun, Mr. Isaac Bioku, Mr. Bashir Suleiman, Dr. Bimpe Aderounmu, Prince Niyi Okunade and Chief Nasir Oladokun are all working round the clock for what they described as 2023 Iyake: A festival not to be forgotten in a hurry.