CULTURE AND TRADITIONS: DREADED AJEGUNLE MASQUERADE, AJERON, APPEASED THE LAND AGAINST CORONAVIRUS

-Ba’ale of Alayabiagba, Bale Adeshina Ojora and Ba’ale of Aiyetoro, Ba’ale Saheed Fakunle leads Oje Apapa Parapo as sacrifice was offered for AJIF LGA to prosper and be filled with wealth!

Fakunle Sheriff Ekundayo reports
One of Ajegunle foremost masquerades, ‘Egungun Ajeron’ made a cameo appearance in the wee hours of Thursday, April 23, 2020 in Alayabiagba town as part of the local government effort’s towards ridding AJIF LGA off the coronavirus pandemic.

The masquerade outing, according to reports gathered, had the backing of His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdul-Fatai Aremu Oyeyinka Aromire, Oyegbemi 11, the Ojora of Ijora and Iganmu kingdom, and the executive chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area, Fatai Adekunle Ayoola.

According to the Ifa priest during ritual procession, said the request of the LGA shall be granted as long as the gods had been appeased with the necessary sacrifice.

The Ifa priest stated further: “The land in Ajeromi-Ifelodun shall be prosperous, peaceful and shall bear no criminals
thereafter.”

Speaking to Project 3:16 Metro before the eventual sacrifice procession by Egungun Ajeron, Ba’ale Adeshina Ojora said the ritual had become necessary in order for the raging pandemic not to overcome the people of Ajegunle.

“As one of the traditional rulers in this local government, we must perform our roles in order to keep the society safe,” he said.
Ba’ale Saheed Fakunle said that the cameo appearance of Egungun Ajeron was significant in the eradication of the dreaded disease in Ajegunle.

“The Egungun Ajeron is symbolic as one of the popular masquerades in this land,” he added.

The ritual procession involves Egungun Ajeron who led the way with the sacrifice to the Iroko tree in Ayinde Street along boundary road.

Prayers were offered to the land and leaders in AJIF LGA.

The masquerade thereafter returned to her ancenstoral coven {Igbale} after entertaining a delighted handful of audience with its trademark headbutt, swift maneuvers and deliberate shuttle runs under the guidance of security institutions in the LGA.