Molatori Community in Ibeshe Area of Ikorodu division on Monday, August 20, 2018, hosted a memorable Isese Day celebration at the palace of the Baale of Molatori, Chief Ayodele Ominiha Giwa.
Earlier, the celebration took off in the early hours of the day. Chief Giwa led female traditionalists and other residents of the community to the Polapo River to offer sacrifice and appease the river. After returning to the palace, Chief Giwa was led to the shrine by the female traditionalists, who were clad in white robes, to offer another set of sacrifices to the various deities in Molatoriland.
The Baale was also assisted by the female traditionalists to offer ritual items such as ram, palm oil, fish, goat, white ram, hot drink, hen and pounded yam to Ogun, (God of Iron, Osun (River goddess), Orisanla, Obaluaye, Ominiha, Esu (Devil) and other deities to appease them and seek their protection for Molatori community.
They later offered prayers for the descendants of the Omitoloye Olikotun as well as the residents and the entire Molatori community. The celebration also featured a modest entertainment session during which guests and residents were served food and drinks. Chief Giwa, his family members, guests, residents and the female traditionalists later had a dance session to bring the event to an end.
In an interview with Oriwu Sun, Chief Giwa said that Isese day was an annual traditional festival, which has been with the people of Molatori before the coming of the Christian and Islamic religions, .
According to him, the festival was an important event, which the people of the community use to seek for peace, protection and good fortunes from the deities in the land. He said that the uninterrupted peace and development being experienced in Molatori under his reign was because he has been celebrating Isese day and other traditional rites regularly and expressed commitment to continue to observe the celebration to ensure more peace in the land.
The Baale explaining further said Isese day celebration has its roots in yoruba culture with every home in yoruba having connection with the celebration. He urged the people to preserve their culture and should not allow their belief in their respective religions to disconnect them from Isese Day.
He, therefore, thanked members of the Omitiloye Olikotun descendant family for their support and contributions towards the celebration and for sending representatives to drum support for him and the people of Molatori.
Chief Giwa, while praying for his people, urged them to continue to remain united and shun acts capable of disturbing the peace and development of the community. In his own remarks, Chief Shuaibu Ominiha, Olootu Molatori, described Isese day celebration as a legacy handed over to them by their ancestors and commended Chief Giwa for ensuring that the celebration holds every year since he became the Baale.
While corroborating with the last speaker, he expressed confidence that the people of the community would reap great benefits from this year’s Isese Day celebration because all the sacrifices and rites offered to the deities were accepted.
In their separate remarks, the representatives of the three branches of the Omitoloye Olikotun descendant’s family described the Isese day celebration as a bond that unites the four branches of the family. They described Chief Giwa as a good person who always identifies with other members of the family whenever the need arises and congratulated the people of Molatori on the occasion of Isese day celebration.
On ground to witness the event were representatives of the other three branches of the Omitoloye Olikotun descendant family including (Kawojue, Omitiloye, Shoshanya Omitiloye Olikotun and Omitiloye Olikotun Shogabi) from Emuren, Owode – Ibeshe and Ishashi – Ibeshe communities respectively.
Among those at the event were, Alhaji Mojeed Adekola Kawojure Elemuren, Imam Ibrahim A. Awodeko, Chief Imam of Emuren; Oloye M. K. Salako; Chief Bolaji Awodeko, Apena of Emuren; Madam Jemilatu Abosede Olabanwo; Chief Muraina Oduwole; Mr. Adio Andu Ademosu Shoshanya, Mr. Ganiu Saka Orijajogun and Chief Waliu Ekundayo.