Afon community head bars traditionalists from hosting Osun Festival

Elders in Afon community, Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State have expressed concern over purported move by one traditionalist, Abimbola Falilat, otherwise known as Iya Osun to host Osun Festival in the community.

The Osun Festival is a traditional religious celebration by people who worship the Osun River. It is common among the Yoruba and some other ethnic groups.

While confirming the development, the traditional head of Afon, Alhaji Ibrahim Adebayo Mohammed told EVENTNG on Wednesday that he had received several reports that the said traditionalist was perfecting plans to host the Osun Festival January 5, 2023.

Iya Osun ‘s shrine inside her compound

He further maintained that the woman had produced invitation cards which she has been distributing to her fellow traditionalists but she was quick to withdraw the invitation cards upon sensing that her plans might be aborted if the community head got wind of her plans.

According to him, he has related the development to the district head of the community, formally referred to as Daudu Afon, Alhaji Kola Hannafi Balogun who promised to apprised the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-gambari and other appropriate quarters for swift preventive actions.

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The Magajin Afon, however, said Ilorin is known peace and any action capable of wreaking havocs or causing social unrest within the Emirate and beyond would not be treated with a pinch of salt.

Iya Osun and a fellow traditionalist

He advanced that Ilorin is reputed for being one of the leading when it comes upholding and propagating the tenets of Islam in the country and any aberration from the agelong established Islamic principles and practices would be greeted with outright rejection.

This is the banner for last Osun Festival

Alhaji Ibrahim revealed that while Falilat has the fundamental right to practise any religion of her choosing, she must respect the religious sensibility of the community.