Why ‘Oneness’ stands out as the perfect theme for Ososo carnival 2023 – Moses Ajayi

Moses Ajayi, the president of the Ososo carnival, in this interview with JAYMS SMART, shed light on the vision to promote unity and togetherness among community members and visitors.

With a lineup of exciting events and activities, Ososo Carnival 2023 aims to foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity. From the bonfire night to the talent hunt, road race, and carnival procession, each event is designed to bring people together, transcending boundaries and creating a convivial atmosphere where differences fade away. Excerpts:

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind choosing the theme of “Oneness” for Ososo Carnival 2023? How does it reflect the culture and social values of Ososo Community?

Honestly, I cannot put my finger on it. However, I want to believe it was divinely inspired. In the course of reflecting on the choice of a theme, my colleagues and I were confronted with several options. “Oneness” stood out like a diamond.

It was irresistible. We were unanimous in accepting it as the most relevant and appropriate theme that would resonate with our carnival audience in 2023 because as we all know, it is one ingredient that is lacking in societies all over the world and particularly our dear community, Ososo. Let me quickly add that Ososo people are at peace with themselves and welcoming to visitors and tourists despite differences in opinions, which is not unusual.

The choice of ‘oneness’ should not be misconstrued to suggest we are divided and at daggers drawn. The theme is just a prescription that can be likened to a daily dose of vitamin that societies, require to boost their ability and capacity to work together for greater accomplishments. What many people fail to realize is that communal conflicts and disagreements have the proclivity to undermine the health of any society.

To answer the second leg of your question, the concept of “Oneness” is not alien to Ososo culture. Even though it is a universal concept, it is a social value that has existed with our forebears from time immemorial. There are words in Ososo language which connote “Oneness”. I refer here to words such as “Akugbe”, “Ikwegbegbe” and “Oguogowegi”. They all suggest the need for oneness and unity. Any of these words could be a perfect synonym for “oneness”.

What are some of the key events and activities planned for Ososo Carnival 2023 that aim to promote unity and togetherness among the community members and visitors?

Four key events have been scheduled for this year’s carnival. They are: bonfire night, talent hunt, road race and carnival procession, also known as street party. Each of these events has been specifically designed to promote unity and togetherness.

Each event is a type of performance, a communal performance, with no boundaries between performers and the audience. Its defining features are festivity, entertainment and relaxation During the bonfire night or street party for example, what is upper most in the minds of performers and the audience is the desire to catch the greatest fun and relaxation.

At every event, there is no room for discrimination of any kind. Nobody is interested in where you come from, whether you are from “Oshodi Oke” or “Oshodi Isale” or whether you are black or white or tall or short. Your religious or political inclinations are irrelevant.

The convivial atmosphere of the carnival promotes oneness and eliminates complexities of relationships. The feeling one gets from the unrestrained excitement at these events is magical and that is what binds everyone together.

In what ways do you envision the Ososo Carnival 2023 fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity among different cultural and ethnic groups within and outside the Ososo community?

Like I mentioned earlier, carnivals by their nature are cultural celebrations that resonate with people across different cultures, diverse demographics and complex relationships. They also transcend boundaries and breakdown stubborn barriers.

It is against this backdrop that the organizers of the 2023 edition of Ososo Carnival have taken deliberate measures to foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity among the different groups in and around Ososo; first, by the choice of the theme of the event which is “Oneness” and secondly by ensuring that the entire community and our visitors have a feel of the carnival experience. For example, the road race has been designed in such a way that the racecourse will traverse through all the quarters of Ososo in the spirit of “Oneness”. The 10kilometer race will be flagged off at Egbetua.

The runners would be expected to take their race through Iyola and head up to Udurevho from where they would connect Ikpena and Ani quarters before terminating at the finish line in front of the customary court. The race is symbolic and is intended to remind us that irrespective of our current status, religious and political beliefs as well as geographical location, Ososo is united by one ancestral history and cultural bond.

Since the idea behind the road race is also to promote sports tourism, participation in the event is open to every interested participant from anywhere within and outside Ososo and we are happy to note the interest this has generated.

How will Ososo Carnival 2023 celebrate the diversity of traditions, music, dance and cuisine while emphasizing the importance of coming together as one community?

The template for achieving this is already in place. Ososo carnival since its inception in 2011 has religiously preserved its nomenclature as a cultural event designed to showcase the cultural heritage, traditions and tourism potentials of Ososo.

In performing this role, the carnival has not only projected the diversity of cultures, but encouraged artistic narratives that promote the uniqueness of our indigenous traditions. Most carnivals are deep rooted in the culture and tradition of the geographical area where they are held but in the case of Ososo Carnival, it is a mixture of indigenous traditional narratives, fused with a strong touch of Caribbean influences in the three elements of music, dance, and elaborate costumes which are central to carnival celebrations.

In order to foster inclusivity and increase local cultural content, the street party this year will feature increased participation by socio-cultural groups based in Ososo. We have extended invitations to twenty groups in Ososo alone. The groups will be given an opportunity to showcase different aspects of our cultural heritage and traditions; and compete for prizes in the following categories: the best traditional costumes, best traditional dance performance, best troupe in artistic creativity and best traditional songs.

What role do you hope Ososo Carnival 2023 will play in promoting peaceful coexistence, understanding, mutual respect among the diverse members of the community?

Ososo indigenes, by our nature and disposition, are very humane, sociable and hospitable. We love our community with extreme passion and are very proud of its natural endowments and tourism potentials. The fact that the community is stratified along sectional interests, political and value differences, and relationship conflicts, does not detract from the fact that we share one common ancestral history and cultural heritage.

In fact, the recognition of our common humanity and ancestry should be the first step in the celebration of our differences. The existing differences notwithstanding, the ‘Ososo spirit’ which represents our shared communal identity has continued to project our image positively through Ososo Carnival on the national and international scene.

The choice of “Oneness” as the theme of this year’s carnival is therefore quite apt and relevant. We hope it will reawaken the consciousness of Ososo indigenes, especially the elite and people of influence, to rise up and change the narrative by emphasizing more the things that unite us as a people than those issues that divide us. Oneness will lay the building blocks and firm foundation for peaceful coexistence in Ososo.

It will make everyone in the community to feel respected, valued and connected. It is gratifying to note, that there are other initiatives outside the carnival who are also canvassing the need for oneness. Let me seize this opportunity to commend some of our illustrious artists like JoRaph, Zealano and Empeace whose songs have continued to inspire love for motherland and the drive for unity in Ososo.

How does Ososo Carnival 2023 aim to show case the cultural heritage of Ososo and its surrounding regions, highlighting the shared values that connect the community to the broader Nigerian cultural tapestry?

I have earlier highlighted how we intend to showcase Ososo’s cultural heritage during this year’s carnival and by extension that of our neighboring communities with whom we share cultural similarities in terms of language, symbols, beliefs, norms and values. Just like Ososo, all the communities in Akoko-Edo local government area are known to be friendly, accommodating and peace-loving.

We are also collectively known for our industry and high value for hard work. There are however remarkable differences which distinguish us from one and another in terms of language, arts and crafts and initiation practices. Despite the diversity, we in Ososo Carnival appreciate the beauty of each other’s culture.

There are no plans to feature cultural troupes from our neighboring communities and elsewhere this year because of sponsorship challenges. We hope to factor them in our future plans as this will significantly enrich the content of our carnival.

Do you have any fears that the issues of insecurity such as kidnapping now going on in villages close to Ososo will cause some people who may want to come into the town for carnival not to if the Edo State government do not as a matter of urgency tackle the criminal elements perpetrating this evil act?

Yes. The feeling is intense. People can feel it in faraway places. People are scared to come home which used to provide them a safe haven for rest and relaxation.

There is a palpable fear everywhere and there is no doubt that this may affect the travel plans of carnival enthusiasts, fun seekers and tourists at this year’s event. Recent updates indicate however that the tide has turned with the recent deployment of soldiers in and around Ososo as well as the mobilization of vigilante groups with the active support and financial assistance of key state actors and non-state actors.

The current outlook is positive as some calm has been restored. We hope this will encourage many people to travel home for the carnival and other festivities. Let me use this opportunity to salute and commend the efforts of the state government and the leadership of Akoko-Edo local government, top serving and retired security personnel, Ososo Development Association, Abuja branch, Ososo Security Network, the vigilante and the youths and especially, the officers and men of the army and the police who are on ground to restore order. The carnival team appreciates them all.

Could you share with us any collaborations or partnerships that will strengthen the message of Oneness at Ososo Carniva 2023, such as involving the State Government, organizations, artists, businesses in the festivals?

We have a number of partnerships and collaborations in place designed to strengthen the message of Oneness. I am happy that a number of persons and organizations have applauded the choice of the theme and expressed the desire to work for the success of the carnival. For strategic reasons, I will not divulge names in order to forestall sabotage.

On the role of government, we are grateful to the Edo State Government for creating the enabling environment for us to function. The activities of Ososo carnival are in tandem with the core fundamentals of the Edo State Tourism Master plan, one of which is to boost domestic tourism and make the state the choice destination for global tourists.

Talking about partnerships, our relationship with friends in Calabar Carnival is very robust. We are proud of the tremendous progress they have made. We are encouraged by their exponential growth and believe that someday Ososo Carnival will attain the level where they are today. Back home, we shall pursue mutually beneficial engagements with the Ososo Cultural and Vocation Center, PITO foundation, Visit Ososo and other initiatives to strengthen the message of oneness, cultural revival and domestic tourism.

How will Ososo Carnival 2023 seek to engage and involve the youth in promoting the idea of oneness, encouraging them to take pride in their cultural heritage and contribute to building a more united and harmonious community?

Experience has shown that the youths are the bearers and strongest expression of carnivals and festivals all over the world. It is therefore impossible to exclude them or their interests in the planning and execution of such events. Let us not forget also that as we say, they are the future leaders of tomorrow.

In the course of preparations for Ososo carnival 2023, the carnival team reached out to the leadership of the Ososo Youth Association to solicit their collaboration and participation in the efforts to raise awareness on the need for unity and togetherness in the community.

The reaction of the Gen Z (Generation Z or Zoomer) who constitute the bulk of our carnival audience (about 85%) on the theme of this year’s carnival has been very positive. They will be pivotal in our quest to promote the idea of oneness as the years go by. The solid vibes and positive energy they bring to each event provide a fertile ground for sensitization on the need for oneness and building a peaceful and harmonious and prosperous Ososo.

Looking beyond the 2023 event, what are the long-term goals of Ososo Carnival in fostering a legacy of oneness and promoting unity and cohesion within the community for years to come?

Before I look beyond 2023, let me express my profound appreciation to the chairman and members of the board of trustees of Ososo Carnival Initiative, my fellow teammates and our sponsors for their commitment and tireless efforts in ensuring that the event holds every year. Let me also express gratitude to the vibrant young men and women who collaborated with the initiators of the carnival for their pioneering role in birthing the carnival.

The carnival is in its thirteenth year of existence, it has taken God’s grace and intervention for it to weather several storms and challenges. It should be on record that the carnival is the only project pioneered in Ososo that has lived over one decade and above and still has strong potentials for growth.

This has been possible because of oneness in the carnival team which consists of the Board and teammates of the carnival. Going forward, the carnival team is in the process of developing a strategic work plan for the next five years (2024 -2029).

The strategic work plan, when approved, will focus on scaling up activities that will continue to project the traditions, cultural heritage and tourism potentials of Ososo; sustain efforts to boost domestic tourism and promote the positive image of Ososo as a major tourist destination in Edo State and Nigeria; increase awareness and engagement with critical stakeholders in the community to address thematic challenges and; organize events that will continue to foster oneness, promote unity and cohesion as well as boost the economic prosperity of Ososo.

Significantly too, we intend to gradually open up the sponsorship space to enable our people to contribute and make donations towards the organization of carnival events. This has become necessary in the face of dwindling sponsorship by corporate bodies. Carnival events are capital intensive and therefore require a sponsorship base that is responsive, friendly and committed to ensuring that the carnival holds annually.