Oladunwo Masquerade Of Okemesi Ekiti
EGUNGUN festival occupies an important place in the socio-cultural life of Okemesi-Ekiti. It’s a festival that brings all the segments of the society together. It also re-unites the living with the dead. The general belief is that Egungun represents the spirit of the ancestors, thus the celebration involves some sacrifice to appease dieties. Oladunwo is the major cultural festival highly celebrated in Okemesi-Ekiti and its environs. The festival is an age-long celebration of the brave people of Okemesi, which promotes love and peace among the indigenes. The masquerade is generally believed by people of Okemesi to have saved and protected them during the Yoruba internecine wars especially the Ekiti Parapo war which liberated the Ekitis from the rulership of the Ibadan (1877-1996) Location and origin. Okemesi has its origin from lle-Ife, the ancient seat and ancestral home of the Yoruba race. From historical records, there is blood relationship between Okemesi, Ile-Ife and Ilesa. Okem