Who doesn’t love a birthday party, especially when there are colourful fireworks, citywide sing-along, and everyone is invited? The Egbas, and all visitors to Abeokuta this week, were all welcome to the ancient town’s biggest birthday celebration of the year, in honour of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, who clocked 80th on Thursday September 14.
In a town where the monarchy enjoys a reverence seldom seen in modern times, Alake’s birthday is always a special moment. But this year is a landmark one as the monarch joined the league of Octogenarians in good physical and mental health. The landmark age was celebrated with a week-long run of festivities, including an investiture of chieftaincy titles to eminent sons and daughters of Egbaland, sporting activities —a 10km marathon—, royal parades with a song of salute and praise, medical outreach, thanksgiving services and the birthday party, among others.
Since his ascension to the throne of his forebears in 2005, Alake —a retired military top brass and cosmopolitan figure— has ensured there is a massive development stride in Egbaland using his goodwill and clout to facilitate major transformation projects in his kingdom. This has endeared the paramount ruler to his subjects who trooped out on Thursday particularly at the interdenominational service at the Cathedral Church of St Peters, Ake, Abeokuta and the laying of foundation of the new Abeokuta City Hall —a project to be done in anticipation of the 200th anniversary of Abeokuta which will take place in 2030. The highlight of the royal birthday celebration was the grand reception and book launch held in his imperial majesty’s honour with top music stars on the bandstand.