In an effort to foster national unity through culture, cultural enthusiasts in Africa and other continents are preparing for the maiden edition of the Ayan-Agalu Festival themed; ‘Rejigging Yoruba Cultural Heritage as Catalyst for National Unity, Progress and Development- The Ayangalu Example,’ billed to hold in Canada in July 2023.
The event will hold on Friday, July 28, 2023, at Fuzion Banquet Hall, Britannia Rd E, Mississauga. Ontario, Canada, and has been approved and given royal blessings by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II).
Ayan-Agalu Festival is packaged by The Drum Online Media, an international media organization duly registered and operational in Canada, with the mandate of strategic recognition and advancement of Nigeria and Africa’s cultural heritage on both national and global scenes.
According to Prince Segun Akanni, the organizer and convener of The Drum Festival, part of The Drum Online Media Inc is a critical mandate, obsession for African cultural renaissance and its promotion.
Akanni disclosed he wished to use this medium to reveal the organization’s plan and preparation to display one of Nigeria and Africa’s most prestigious cultural festivals known as The Drum Festival (Ayan-Agalu Festival).
He said the history of “The ayan-Agalu Festival is as extremely fascinating as that of any other drum festival staged across the globe; with a plethora of healing, educative, entertaining and prosperous cultural festivals, the Yoruba race is, undoubtedly, one of the most endowed races replete with rich and prestigious traditions and cultures in the world today.
“One of the such celebrated and prestigious cultural festival is the Drum Festival – (Ayangalu Festival). The origin of Ayan Agalu dates back to the epoch when the Yoruba primogeniture, Oduduwa, descended on the earth at Ile-Ife. Ayangalu was said to have descended next to Oduduwa at a historic place called Atiba and this obviously accounts for why Atiba remains the hub of traditional drummers in Ile Ife – Yoruba ancestral abode – till date. The term ‘Ayangalu’ refers to the ‘spirit or god of the drum.”
Many breath-taking activities have been lined up to celebrate the maiden edition including street-wide procession across Toronto and Mississauga; lecture to be delivered by a Professor Emeritus, His Royal Majesty Oba (Prof) Adekunle Adeogun Okunoye, Eburu Of Iba, Osun State – on the event’s theme; Arts Exhibition; Beauty Pageant; Drum Competition; Presentation of Award of Excellence to selected awardees; Presentation of Prizes and Cultural Gifts; and other mind-blowing shows and side attractions.
In a bid to make the event great and memorable, important dignitaries from Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic and Canada as well as cultural enthusiasts and drum gurus from other parts of the world will be in attendance.
Other dignitaries that will be in attendance are Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Canada’s Minister of Tourism, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Nigerian Government officials, Member of Canadian Parliament, Mayor of Toronto, Mayor Of Brampton, Mayor of Mississauga, UNESCO, Canada Council for the Arts and the Canadian National Arts Centre, Department of Canadian Heritage among others.
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