By Lekan Adejuwon
Ipoti Ekiti in the Irede Local Council Development Area of Ekiti State was in the news for celebration reasons in the past two days as the community felicitate with the royal father of the town HRM Oba Oladipupo Kolade in observation of one of the oldest traditions of the community-the annual New Yam festival.
According to a palace source, the festival is an annual celebration of the consumption of new yams by Olupoti of Ipoti-Ekiti.
Held at the Olupoti Palace Square, the climax of the two-day cultural fiesta was at it’s peak when the Oloris bring yam tubers from Kabiyesi’s farm, called “Oko Uroye”.before the jubilating audience in festive mood paying obeisance to the paramount ruler
This was followed by traditional prayers for the peace, progress and development of the town snd for the long reign of the king who is the custodian of the tradition and culture of the community.
According to the town’s age long tradition, the Kabiyesi is now at liberty to eat the new yams signalling the end of two days action filled activities with Kabiyesi dancing to a place called “Egbeku”.
