Entertainment
Ojude Oba This Sunday: Your Hub For Culture, Fashion, And Fun
Want to witness the best of Ijebu culture? Your destination is Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, and the dateline is Sunday, June 8. Held on the third day after Eid-el-Kabir, the festival, which literally means “The King’s Forecourt,” is famous for parades by various groups, including the Regberegbes (sons and daughters of the Ijebuland/age grades); horse riders, and cultural troupes, traditional dances, music, and fashion, and homage to the Awujale, the paramount ruler of the Ijebu Kingdom.
To be sure, cultural festivals abound around the world, including the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with its elaborate floats, costumes, Samba music and street parties; Diwali in India with the lights, fireworks, lanterns, and decorations; the Chinese New Year with its lion and dragon dances; the Tomatina Festival in Spain famous for its tomato-throwing battle, music, and feasting; the United States’ Mardi Gras in New Orleans with its colorful parades, costumes and Jazz music, or the Holi in Nepal and India, replete with colors, powders and water. Nigeria has its Durbar Festival with colorful display of horses and cavaliers paying homage to the Emir in Katsuba, Kano, and Kaduna; Eyo Festival in Lagos famous for its masquerades and traditional rituals; Osun Festival of fertility featuring traditional worship and offerings; the Argungu Fishing Festival, a bare-handed fishing competition accompanied by water sports and wrestling in Kebbi State; and, of course, the New Yam Festival celebrated in Benue State (Ige-Agba Festival) and Enugu State (Mamanwu Festival). But Ojude Oba, the Ijebu festival of homage to the Awujale, is in a class of its own. It is, quite simply, Nigeria’s biggest festival of steeze, the dandiest exploration and presentation of royal couture marking the Ijebu homecoming, reunion and sheer majesty.
Name the popular fabric, from aso oke, sanyan and alaari to damask, lace and cashmere, and Ojude Oba is there to show you the possibilities of grandeur. You will be awed as you see men with their fila (cap) exuding affluence, and women with their gele skontolo (headgear) giving directions and showing the pride and elegance of the Ijebu people. Often bejeweled and, like their men, teaching class with the best wristwatches from around the world, women in goggles holding purses of various shapes file out in glorious array, and there are also horse riders dressed to kill and taking the centre stage. The various displays taking place at the Ojude Oba Pavilion, the arena called “Glass House” where the wealthiest participants do their thing; the main arena where the Regberegbe (age grades) sit in groups, and the centre stage occupied by the Awujale of Ijebuland, his dignitaries and guests, simply take your breath away. If you don’t have reserved spot, the regular seats are there for you. Ojude Oba is elegance and class in phenomenal expression.
If you want to see how the Ijebus revere and treasure their Oba, Ojude Oba is your destination of choice. The Ijebus converge to pay obeisance and assure the Kabiyesi of their loyalty and support, affirming his authority as the paramount majesty within the Ijebu Kingdom. All Ijebu obas and their subjects attend Ojude Oba. The Ijebus, renowned for industry and entrepreneurship, are widely acknowledged as one of the most sophisticated ethnic groups in Yorubaland. They are well travelled, exposed and wealthy. They are the lords of business, the captains of industry, and the biggest men in our politics. If you want to see the best attire or fashion or display; if you want to witness achievements and accomplishments in a live drama, come to Ojude Oba, a festival that many in Yorubaland envy because it is unmatched in splendor and glory. Do you remember last year with Oregba and his steeze, the picture that became iconic, a reference point for those who love fashion and class? This year promises more.
Naturally, the Ogun State government is actively involved in the celebrations. Speaking at the 2024 Ojude Oba Festival held at the Ojude Oba Pavilion in Ijebu-Ode, Governor Abiodun said: “Ojude Oba festival is not only a cultural heritage for the indigenes of Ijebuland, it has now become a significant event that attracts local and foreign tourists to Ogun State, showcasing our hospitality and enviable tradition of Ijebuland to the national and global audience. This festival serves as a symbol of our unity, tourism and a rallying point to all the Ijebu sons and daughters to celebrate the life and times of our tradition, our culture, and our revered monarch. It has become a catalyst for development of Ijebuland, this undoubtedly underscores the importance of preserving our traditions for future generations. By standing for unity and harmony, we elevate our community and set an example for others to follow. The essence of unity and harmony in Ijebuland can be seen willingly in cultural events like this festival. Our administration is deeply committed to supporting the initiative to make it a permanent event in the global tourism industry.” That, really, is the heart of the matter.
This year’s Ojude Oba will be packed with fun. Over to FCMB, one of the major sponsors of the event: “Ojude Oba reflects the type of society we’re working to build, one that values legacy, unity, and long-term prosperity,” Olojo said. “Our support, which began nearly 25 years ago, is rooted in the vision of our late founder, Otunba Olasubomi Balogun, who believed in the role of culture in enterprise development and community advancement.” Among other attractions, Yusuf Dongo, an Ijebu Ode-born young sculptor, is set to showcase a metal horse sculpture that pays tribute to the genius of the Ijebu people. The piece, which took three years to complete, is aimed at paying tribute to the history and traditions of Ijebuland. Hear him: “Ojude Oba is the perfect platform to exhibit this masterpiece. I want both indigenes and non-indigenes to connect with the rich culture, tradition, and history of Ijebu through my work. It’s also a great space for dialogue, networking, and connecting with like-minded creatives.”
And now, to Globacom, the main sponsor for the last 25 years. The company plans a magnificent cultural show, entertainment, customer rewards, and empowerment schemes. There are many prizes for subscribers to win at the event, including two brand-new Suzuki Celerio cars, four tricycles, five generators and ten grinding machines. As the winners collect their prizes. There is, of course, “An Evening with Glo” featuring Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi and Musiliu Isola on Thursday, June 6.
Ojude Oba is a phenomenal festival, but the Dapo Abiodun administration is stopping at nothing to make it even more phenomenal. Sunday will be spectacular!
Akinmade is Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
Thenewsnigeria.com.ng
Entertainment
Blood Sisters Season 2 Answers Old Questions, Then Creates New Problems (REVIEW)
Blood Sisters season 1 earned its hype. It was a genuinely refreshing entry in Nollywood, and a story that reminded you the industry could do taut, gripping television when it wanted to. So when season 2 arrived, the goodwill was already there. The question was whether the show knew what to do with it.
Probably, they didn’t need to make a second season. With one extra episode, season 1 could have tied its loose ends and left audiences either fighting about whether justice belongs only to the privileged or hopeful that things can indeed work out in the end. Either exit would have been satisfying. But season 2 exists, and here we are.
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To be fair, it opens on solid ground. Season 1 never gave us a definitive closer, and season 2 at least has the decency to answer the questions it left dangling. There is an escalating middle that works, mostly. But somewhere along the way, the show loses the plot, and by the time the finale arrives, what should have been a landing feels more like a stumble.
Where the season genuinely succeeds is in its moral architecture. Almost no one here is simply good or simply bad, and that appears to be entirely intentional.
You can understand why Kemi and Sarah did what they did and still acknowledge that desecrating a body crosses a line. You can recognise Uduak as a terrible mother and still feel something for a woman who lost her son.
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The show seems invested in the idea that people are capable of both cruelty and justification in the same breath, and that is a more honest portrayal of human nature than most Nigerian productions attempt.
The two leads also carry visible arcs across the season. Kemi and Sarah move from frightened women trying to stay invisible to something sharper, more ruthless, survival-focused in a way that shows growth rather than convenience.
The cast as a whole is strong, with no obvious weak links, though singling out any one performance for the gold medal would be difficult. Different actors shine in different scenes, which is actually a compliment to the ensemble.
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The dialogue holds up too, with occasional slips that are forgivable enough not to derail anything. Visually, the show maintains a consistent tone throughout, and the score is one of its strengths. It is woven into the texture of the story rather than announced over it, which is not always a given.
The pacing, however, is a problem. The season drags in stretches that feel designed for a different viewing rhythm, a rhythm where you are watching at full speed rather than inching forward. It is a recurring tendency in this space, but it does not make it less frustrating.
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Then there is the violence, and it’s not the plot-driven kind. The survival and prison scenes, those come with the territory. The concern is the casual, domestic kind.
A marital dispute that edges into sexual coercion is resolved without consequence by the next scene. A disabled husband beaten nearly to unconsciousness, and then the couple is fine again. These moments are presented as texture rather than examined as a problematic pattern, and the show does not seem to notice the weight it is dropping.
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Femi’s wife also suffers from a poorly resolved arc. She comes in with edge, an early instigator with a hunger for control, and exits the season recast as selfless. The pivot is never earned.
As for the ending, it suggests a third season may be coming, but it lays no real groundwork for one. Loose threads are tied off messily, what could have been a clean directional path gets fractured into too many parts, and the cumulative effect is exhaustion rather than anticipation.
Blood Sisters season 2 is not without merit. The performances, the moral complexity, the score, they all remind you what this show can be. But it needed tighter editing, more considered handling of its domestic violence subplots, and an ending that respected its own story enough to make it work.
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VERDICT: Worth watching, but manage your expectations coming off season 1. If you are willing to speedwalk a few stretches, the performances and the moral complexity make it a decent watch
Entertainment
Why Nollywood Star Adunni Ade kept Her Daughter Hidden For Two Years
A Birthday Surprise: Popular Nollywood actress Adunni Ade marked her birthday by revealing, for the first time, that she had welcomed a daughter, affectionately named Baby Sal, with her long-term partner.
A Guarded Sanctuary: The couple intentionally kept their daughter out of the public eye for over two years, with Adunni citing a desire to protect her family’s peace, celebrate an answered prayer, and navigate private struggles away from the glare of social media.
Dispelling the Rumours: Adunni used the announcement to firmly shut down online speculation and single-mother stereotypes, clarifying that her decade-long relationship did not involve breaking up anyone else’s home for the sake of digital “clicks.”
In a heartfelt post shared on social media, the actress disclosed that she and her partner had kept the child away from the public eye for over two years, choosing to deliberately protect their family’s privacy. \According to Adunni, the journey was marked by personal challenges and silent battles that tested her strength, but she remained entirely focused on enjoying the blessing away from public scrutiny.
She wrote: “We chose privacy. Not because we owed anyone secrecy but because peace is priceless, and not everything good needs an audience. We wanted to enjoy our blessing.”
The actress also directly addressed ongoing speculation regarding her personal life, stressing that her relationship did not involve breaking up any home.
“Not every single mother fits your assumptions. Not every story is a scandal. Not every blessing comes with drama attached. God gave me mine. Fully. Peacefully. Intentionally. Not ‘another woman’s man’ all in the name of clicks,” she stated.
Adunni described the birth of their daughter as an answered prayer, revealing that the couple’s quiet journey together has spanned almost a decade.
“Almighty blessed us with our first child together. Our baby girl, our answered prayer, my evidence that God still writes beautiful stories in His own time,” she added.
Entertainment
Qing Madi’s Label War Deepens As Both Sides Claim Victory In Court Dispute
JTON says a Lagos court granted an injunction restricting Qing Madi’s use of music tied to disputed contracts.
KFMD argues the court affirmed the singer’s right to choose her own management and release new music.
Both sides are publicly disputing the meaning of the ruling while the main case awaits trial.
What started as a TikTok live has become a full legal and public relations battle, with two formal statements now on record and both sides telling very different stories about the same court ruling.
To recap: Qing Madi, the 19-year-old singer behind the recently released EP Barely Legal, went live on TikTok this week to address the disappearance of her music from Spotify, pointing directly at Joy Tongo and JTON Music, the label she had been signed to, as the party responsible.
She alleged that Tongo had stolen from her, forged her signature, and systematically targeted her releases. She also claimed she had won a court case against the label, noting that because she was a minor at the time proceedings began, her mother had to appear in court alongside her.
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