How Covid-19 affected our celebration of Isese Day – Baale
By Damilola Kushimo
The Baale of Ishagatedo Community, High Chief Razak Ishola Owodeyi has explained that though the necessary sacrifices were carried out, the ravaging coronavirus pandemic limited the celebration of this year’s Isese Day, a Yoruba traditional worshippers’ annual celebration.
He said the traditional worshippers could not throw crowded celebrations as they were cautious of breaching the protocols against the spread of the virus in the community.
According to the chief, Ishaga remains one of the communities in Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) where Yoruba cultures and traditional religions are highly regarded and accorded respect as other religions.
He noted that due to the restriction of social gathering, the community only offered sacrifices as rites to appease the gods without any fanfare as it used to be.
Owodeyi further explained that 2020 Isese Day would be remembered as one celebrated unremarkably, not only by the Yoruba traditional worshipers in the community but in Nigeria as a whole giving the reasonable limitations it experienced.
He said: “I warned and ensured that our Egunugun worshippers did not put up any parades due to the directives by the government which restricted such, but we did all the necessary sacrifices we were meant to do for peace and love to continue reigning.
“Coronavirus cannot get a chance in Ishaga because we abide by the precautionary measures and we do our sacrifices as expected of us from the gods.
“As far as I am concerned and with the history I am aware of, there hasn’t been any traditional festival done in this unceremoniously manner. This is just the first one. Even our yearly Egungun festival that was supposed to be done in May, we couldn’t do it due to what was on ground. If by next year, the virus is not outrightly wiped off, we might have to suspend our festivities and just do the necessary sacrifice.”
He further gave the account of how the virus was being controlled in his community as he commended the paramount ruler of Isolo Kingdom, Oba Kabiru Alani Agbabiaka; the Osolo of Isolo on how he has effectively managed the situation in the whole of Isolo community.
He therefore urged the federal government to ensure that people comply with the directives at the airports as it relaxes lockdown on international flights
