Eleyinpo, Maye, Basorun, Teetu, Sobaloju, and Others Grace FIPSU Cultural Day
By Folarin, Principal Secretary to Eleyinpo Palace
The Ita Oba Eleyinpo of Ipapo Land hosted a large crowd on December 31, 2024, at an event organized by the Federation of Ipapo Students Union (FIPSU) to celebrate Yoruba cultural heritage. The event showcased various Yoruba traditional displays, including dancing competitions, dressing competitions, poetry recitals, music performances, lectures, dictation competitions, word dribbling, and more.
Several cultural groups participated in the competition, including Muslim High School Ipapo cultural group, Ipapo Community Grammar School cultural group, Ogungbola Dynamic College Ipapo cultural group, and Unique College Ipapo cultural group. Muslim High School Ipapo emerged first in “Idije Apeko” and also won the dictation competition, while Ogungbola Dynamic College took the top spot in dancing, music, and dressing competitions.
The event also featured a word dribbling competition (Idije Masoyinbo), which was won by Arakunrin Rasheed Adegoke. He was subsequently crowned Omokunrin ASA FIPSU 2024. Other participants in the competition included Aare FIPSU, Salaam Warith Abioye, Adegoke Rasheed, and Oyetunji Kawthar.
The event featured several performing artists, including Alhaji Fatal Oyetunji, who performed Oriki orile of different Yoruba groups, including Iloko, Iseyin, Oke Amu, Olugbon, Ofiki, Saki, and notable families like Eleyinpo, Teetu, Maye, Sobaloju, and Basorun. Egbe Agbasaga of Ipapo also performed bata dance and used talking drums to entertain the audience.
Iya Afin Salaudeen Balikis delivered a keynote address emphasizing the importance of Yoruba culture in society. The guest speaker discussed various aspects of culture, including language, dressing, greetings, food, marriage, and materials. Awards of excellence were presented to notable dignitaries, including Iya Aafin Ojeleye Rasheedat, Zambo Kafayat, Hamsat Balikis, Sodiq Kafayat, and Ogunjinmi Hajara.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Eleyinpo and his chief in council, Arakunrin Folarin (FIPSU staff adviser), Alayo entertainment group founder, Maye, Basorun, Teetu, and Sobaloju.
