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Adire Carnival, the Nigerian Cultural Festival that holds annually in the Austrian capital city of Vienna, has received an important endorsement from one of the most influential traditonal leaders in Africa.
Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ọjájá II), the Ooni of Ife, has expressed his support for the Carnival, organised by the Egbe Omo Oduduwa Austria. He was speaking in his palace in Ile Ife recently when a delegation of the event’s organisers, led by Engr Oluyemi Ogundele, who is also the coordinator of the Egbe, paid him a courtesy visit.
The Yoruba paramount traditional king encouraged the Carnival organisers to continue with the good work they were doing, promising to grace the 2024 edition festival, scheduled to take place next June.
In his response, Engr Ogundele explained the objectives of the cultural festival to Oba Ogunwusi, which is to promote Yoruba cultural heritage and tourism. It is also meant to promote commerce and boost the production of Adire fabrics in the Western part of Nigeria.
The royal father thanked the Adire Carnival organisers for promoting Yoruba culture in Europe and gave them a royal blessing.
Ogundele informed the Ooni that his predecessor on the royal stool, the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, had in 2005 accepted the invitation of the Yoruba community in Austria to grace the 10th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of Egbe omo Oduduwa Austria.
The delegation of the Egbe to the palace was accompanied by the renowned Yoruba cultural activist Princess Adejoke Shomoye, popularly known as Ewaede. She is well known for her war against importation of China-made Adire fabric into Nigeria.
The 2024 Adire Carnival, a week-long programme, will start on Monday 22nd of June with exhibition and end on Saturday 29th of June with the Adire Carnival/ Street party.
The event will also feature the 15th memorial anniversary of Chief Mrs Susan Wenger (a.k.a. Aduni Olorisha), the Austrian-born Osun devotee who lived, died and was buried in Oshogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. The participants will be able to see her work in an exhibition put together by her foundation.
The organisers are expecting the governments of Osun State and Ogun State government to partner with them for the mega event, which will celebrate 10 years of its existence. The 2024 festival will also feature a business summit, an awards ceremony and a cultural beauty pageant.
