.. As new companies set to establish in Epe
The 2017 Kayokayo Festival is gathering momentum as Eko Epe people roll-out the drums to welcome guests, sons and daughters both home and abroad for the festival.
Already, the town has become a beehive of activities with events lined up for the Festival
Speaking at the events press briefing in his palace in Eko Epe, the traditional ruler of Eko Epe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Shefiu Olatunji Adewale, the Bamgbopa Esinlokun 1 applauded the Lagos state governor, Akinwumi Ambode for the massive development and upgrade of facilities in Epe.
The Bamgbopa Esinlokun1 said with this development, some companies are set to establish in Epe as Lagos is becoming congested.
He said this was because some companies cannot no longer get enough land in Lagos to establish their businesses.
Oba Shefiu Adewale stated that plans are on-going to raise the profile of the Kayokayo Festival to an international event, adding that the documents are before the state government for approval.
He said if the approval is granted, the Festival will be re-branded, and the logo launched to make it like the Rio Carnival in Brazil and the Nothing Hill carnival in London.
He explained that the Festival has three aspects like the Cultural Kayokayo, religious and social Kayokayo.
The Olu noted that the economic impact of th Festival to the community are enormous as visitors and tourists who come into the state will lodge in hotels, eat and buy a few things which will impact on the local economy.
He added that the security agencies are on ground to provide adequate security for the event.
Bamgbopa Esinlokun 1 stated further that there would be a re-enactment of the king Kosoko’s journey to Epe accompanied his men with Etufu (that is bundle of sticks tied together and lighted up.) which will be provided by Tarza Boat.
“We are going to re-enact how king Kosoko came from Lagos to Epe, we are going to be on a boat to mimic the way King Kosoko came to Epe in a boat at night.
Apart from that, on the final day, we have invited a lot of personalities to be with us and for this year, we have a reputable band led by fast rising musician, Sefiu Alao, alias Oko Baba who is going to play, including other programmes we have put in place to show the progress and development of Epe.
There are two perspective for Kayokayo festival, the renowned prophet Noah and our blessed king Kososko. King Kososko came from Lagos to Epe, is part of the Kayokayo we are celebrating now is to celebrate his coming, he came with 1500 people when there was confusion and sort of battle ground with his uncle Akintoye, that was why the came and what they used top see, because they came in the night when there was nor electricity and they used the Etufu to see. That is the Kayokayo we are celebrating on one part and the other part we remember prophet Noah when God wanted to destroy the world at that time, God commanded him to build and Art and put the believers in it, even the son who was not a believer was not in that boat, that was the second aspect of Kayokayo, we have been doing this for years now and it has been very successful”. The Olu of Epe explained
The activities lined up for the event include: Quaranic reading and Islamic competition held on Saturday October 14 with the topic, social vices and signs of the last hour, arrival of the Noah boat from Okorisan and lighting of the giant Etufu, annual special Koranic prayer at Olu Epe palace, children party, youth rally, fashion parade, career talk, Durbar, annual royal visits to Olu-Epe and his chiefs to the palaces of the founding fathers.
The events to mark the grand finale on Saturday 21st October will also include royal procession to the Marina waterfront for Al-Kaosara bath, cold bath, display of Noah boat/King Kosoko boat, annual royal Kayokayo prayer at water front with giant Etufu by Olu of Epe among others.
The dignitaries expected to grace the occasion include, Governor Akinwumi Ambode who is expected to be the guest of honour, Otunba Teni Zacheus as th father of the day, Mrs Bolanle Ambode as the chairperson of the day, Alhaji Shile Shafau, Baba Adinni of Epe as the father of the day, Alhaja Aduke Seriki, Iyalode of Epe Kingdom Kingdom as the mother of the day, among other dignitaries.
