The Inception of the Udiroko Festival

The Udiroko Festival was inaugurated in 1310 AD during the rule of Oba Awamaro, the inaugural Ewi of what is now Ado-Ekiti. The name "Udiroko" originates from the location of the initial celebration, held beneath an Iroko tree within the Ewi’s Palace. This festival holds significant importance for the inhabitants of Ado Ekiti, as it is a day set apart by the monarch and his people to express gratitude to their creator, Olorun, earning it the nickname “the Olorunborun festival.” It signifies the onset of a new year for the community and serves as a unifying event that gathers all Ado-Ekiti descendants from around the world. This remarkable occasion provides an opportunity for the subjects to engage with their monarch, who, due to the demands of his esteemed position, spends most of the year in ceremonial isolation, away from regular public interactions.