Dr James Ojebode, chairman of the Memorialisation Committee, ‘Ogun Pepe,’ has released the programme of activities for the festival.
He disclosed this during a press conference, at Atiba Hall, Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria. Oyo, where he briefed the media and the general public on the forthcoming festival, slated to hold between 5-15 November 2025.
According to Ojebode, the week-long activities include fasting and prayer on Tuesday 11th November, 2025 by all the religious groups to seek the face of God for continued peace and harmony in the town. This will be followed on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, there will be tree-planting and Fitila Night that will witness a procession from Owode to Aafin, the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo.
On Thursday, 13th November 2025, there will be a public lecture to be delivered at the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo.
The lecture will be delivered by Prof Akin Alao, a Professor of Legal History at the Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ile-Ife in Osun State. He will be delivering the keynote speech on: Ogun Pepe @ 130: Memory as a call to renewal.
The don will be engaged in academic discourse by discussants including: ` Prof. Sekinat Kola-Aderoju, a distinguished historian, a proud daughter of Oyo, and a true Nigerian icon.
Others in the brainstorming session are: Prof. Niyi Gbadegesin, a prolific, prodigious and dizzyingly peripatetic scholar.
Prof. Ladun Oloruntoba, of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, will also join Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo to be part of the discussants at the lecture.
The father of the day for all the Ogun Pepe events is the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1; while the Chairman of the Committee is James Adesokan Ojebode, PhD, JP, ALA (CSN), Founder and President, Atiba University, Oyo.
The programme will also feature a command performance of ‘Ogun Pepe’ (a stage play written and produced by Gbemi Faleti and directed by Yomi Duro-Ladipo (a filmmaker, actor, theatre and movie director, musician, mechanical engineer, dance instructor/choreographer).
The grand finale of the week-long memorable programme will be the Cultural/Exhibition/Fundraising to be held at the Old Oyo National Park on Saturday, 15th November. The cultural aspect will be handled by Funmi Ajofeebo while the exhibition will be coordinated by Folasade Adeyemi (a.k.a. Arewa).
According to Ojebode, the festival memorialises the face-off between one of the past rulers of Oyo, Alaafin Adeyemi Alowolodu 1 and the British colonial forces.
Going down the memory lane, Ojebode, disclosed that the the conflict began when the Alaafin’s traditional punishment of an Ilari from Iseyin provoked Captain Robert Lister Bower, the British Resident in Ibadan then.
Bower’s demand for submission of the ilari and kudefu was vehemently refused by the Alaafin, leading to a British invasion of Oyo on November 12, 1895. The People of Oyo, loyal to their king, resisted bravely but were eventually overpowered by superior British firepower.
Alaafin, who was wounded, miraculously relocated to Oke-Owinni, later returned triumphantly after a peace treaty mediated by the Catholic Bishop of Oyo.
The war, named after the sharp sound of British gunfire—“pepe pepe pepe”—the war became a symbol of Yoruba pride and resistance. Though it ended in British indirect rule, Ogun Pepe remains a lasting testament to Oyo’s courage, unity, and unbroken spirit of sovereignty.
The Ogun Pepe Memorialisation Ceremony is therefore a cultural, historical, and spiritual commemoration dedicated to the enduring legacy of Ogun Pepe, a war that speaks volumes on the British invasion of Oyo land on 12th of November 1895, 130 years ago.
This invasion, which demonstrates courage, loyalty, and sense of duty stand as timeless virtues in the annals of Oyo history.
“Today’s engagement offers us a valuable opportunity to share the history, vision, objectives, and significance of this landmark event and to invite the full participation of our people at home and abroad, ” Ojebode said.
Ojebode said the 1895 war between the people of Oyo and the British exemplified the noblest ideals of service and sacrifice — qualities that embody the strength, dignity, and resilience of the Yoruba spirit.
“This memorialisation therefore seeks to reawaken public consciousness to these enduring virtues and to ensure that the lessons of Ogun Pepe’s invasion are preserved for future generations. It is both a celebration of history and a call to cultural renewal.”
Explaining the objectives of the Memorialisation, the Committee Chairman said, these include, honouring and celebrating the life, heroism, and moral legacy of Ogun Pepe within the broader history of Oyo and Yoruba land.
” To revive and promote cultural awareness through scholarship, dialogue, and artistic expression.
” To foster intergenerational learning, connecting elders and youth in a shared understanding of heritage and values.
” To promote unity, community pride, and cultural tourism, thereby contributing to the social and economic vitality of Oyo.”
According to Ojebode,
The ten-day celebration promises a rich and dynamic series of events, combining reverence, reflection, and rejoicing. Highlights will include: Traditional rites and libations at designated heritage sites in Oyo; Academic lectures and symposiums featuring renowned scholars and historians on the theme “Heroism, Heritage, and the Oyo Identity; Cultural performances and artistic exhibitions, including fitila/candle night, Tree planting at designated places, drumming, dance, drama, masquerade displays, igba titi, and theatrical representations of Ogun Pepe invasion;
The Cultural Day, shall engage old and younger generations in heritage learning and artistic creativity; Royal tributes and homages by traditional rulers and community elders; and A Grand Finale and Thanksgiving Ceremony, featuring prayers, reflections, and reaffirmation of our collective commitment to preserving Yoruba culture and values.
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