IJAN DAY 2025 : Reigniting People’s Unity, Peace Through Cultural Bond

Onijan of Ijan Ekiti, Oba Lawrence Adebanji Aladesuyi, Afayagbegun II.

By Dare Daramola

Hope is now being restored and expectations in high octane, as all sons and daughters of the peaceful and serene town of Ijan Ekiti, in Gboyin Local Council Development Area (LCDA) geared up for a week-long celebrations tagged: Ijan-Ekiti Day 2025.

For the people, through this unification, the spirit of love, peace, unity, togetherness and renaissance of the past will be re-enacted again in colourful glitz and camaraderie.

It would be recalled that, the last Ijan Day edition was held 10 years ago amidst pomp and fanfare.
It was a gathering of lots of indigenes of the town spread across Nigeria and beyond. While several other visitors and guests were not left out of the celebration. It indeed, was a showcase of traditional, cultural and social wellness of the people.

In the year 2015 edition, various Age Groups from each quarter of the town often added panache to the cultural fiesta , by playing host and rendering obeisance to Kabiyesi, the Onijan of of Ijan Ekiti, Onijan – in- Councils,(Chiefs) , indigenes, Special Guests and Dignitaries and visitors that attended the event.

However, it was not all about fun and display. The Age Groups also made financial contributions into the purse of the town towards her economic growth and development.

Much as one would have expected the celebration and euphoria to continue, at a point, the drum beats stopped. The drummers returned home. And the masquerades, all went back to the land of their ancestors!

So, it was for good 10 years.
Questions were later asked. Remarks were made – some sneers; some encouraging.
Will Ijan Day ever hold again? Can a Grand Event like the first Edition ever happened?

Interestingly, the 10 years hiatus has given birth to new hope and restoration as the talk of the town event is now being planned to hold in November 2025.
Thanks to the egg-heads, both at home and in the diaspora, who were appointed to plan a befitting celebration to rekindle the light and get another outstanding celebration on the way.

History of togetherness is to be re-enacted in a glowing, glamorous colours, and great story of love, unity, peace and harmony revived and showcased.

“We are poised for something spectacular. Something new and robust. A re-awakening and play up of the good spirit of our fathers, embedded in genuine love, peace and harmony on which they were binded and bonded.”

This is the position of Chief Asiwaju John Ajayi, the Chairman of Ijan-Ekiti Day 2025 Planning Committee.
“I still have the memories of the first Ijan Day Celebration in 1986. It was so colourful. Extremely remarkable and unprecedented in the history of our town.
We can bring such glamour back again. We are great cultural promoters. Our people are resilient and they will stop at nothing to celebrate their culture and social values at any time. The reason, I believe that Ijan Day 2025 will go down in history as another watershed to further bring our people together and celebrate under one umbrella. We are ready for a swell time! Chief Ajayi enthused.

His Royal Majesty, Olabanji Lawrence Aladesuyi said it was a good idea to bring back the Ijan Day Celebration. Describing it as an event that will be a rallying point for all his people to come together to celebrate love and oneness.
“I cannot wait to witness another epoch-making event such as Ijan Day. I know that, every member of the Committee, both at home and in diaspora are ready and committed to putting up a Grand Event. I commend their zeal and unrivaled dedication.”
In 1986, Ijan Day Celebration debuted in great excitement, fun and glamour.
This year’s Ijan-Ekiti Day event promised to be an extravaganza of sort with array of activities lined up for one week – Monday 10th to Saturday 15th November 2025.

Daramola, is a journalist and an indigene of Ijan Ekiti