07/08/2026
OLUKUMORI PROCESSION: A SACRED HERITAGE MARKING THE OFFICIAL COMMENCEMENT OF THE NEW YAM FESTIVAL IN EMURE-ILE KINGDOM
As part of the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of Emure-Ile Kingdom, the Olukumori Procession was held in reverence of the annual New Yam Festival, led by Princess (Chief) Adeyefa Adesewa and Princess Adeyefa Tinuade, alongside other distinguished women of the Ebi-Elemure.
The Olukumori Procession is one of the most revered traditional rites of Emure-Ile Kingdom and is performed exclusively by the female members of the Ebi-Elemure. This sacred procession is deeply rooted in the customs and ancestral traditions of the kingdom, preserving an age-long practice handed down through generations.
The procession symbolizes the official declaration that all sons and daughters of Emure-Ile Kingdom can now eat the new yam. Until this important traditional rite is performed, the new yam is not publicly consumed, as the kingdom observes the customs established by its forebears in honour of the harvest season and in gratitude to the Almighty God for a successful farming year.
Beyond announcing the commencement of the new yam season, the Olukumori Procession is a solemn occasion of prayers and royal homage. The women offer heartfelt prayers for the continued good health, wisdom, long life, and peaceful reign of His Royal Majesty, Oba Bankole Adeyefa II, the Elemure of Emure-Ile Kingdom. They also pray for abundant harvests, enduring peace, unity, divine protection, progress, and prosperity throughout Emure-Ile Kingdom.
The New Yam Festival remains one of the kingdom’s most cherished cultural celebrations, serving as a reminder of the people’s agricultural heritage, their gratitude for nature’s blessings, and their unwavering commitment to preserving the customs, values, and traditions that define the identity of Emure-Ile Kingdom.
The presence of His Royal Majesty with the women of the Olukumori Procession further reflects the deep bond between the throne and the custodians of the kingdom’s sacred traditions, reaffirming the importance of unity, cultural preservation, and intergenerational continuity.
Long live His Royal Majesty, Oba Bankole Adeyefa II.
Long live Emure-Ile Kingdom.
Damilola Oyinlade
Director of Media & Publicity to the Elemure of Emure-Ile Kingdom