DEITIES IN AGBOWA IKOSI; ÀGBO RÉMIRÉKÈ.

By Tolulope Onifade, Oyebade Olamide, Adeniyi Olamide and Ajiboye Demilade. 

Agbowa Ikosi is a land that is in constant communion with their gods and goddesses in ensuring the well-being and tranquillity of their community. 

A total of 16 deities represent the traditional powers that oversee the community. Each of them have specific periods assigned for their celebration by their devotees.

The most popular and prominent of them is the celebration of the Agbo Remireke diety. It is celebrated every 3 years and it usually starts on the 25th of December and ends on the 9th of January. 

The Agbo Remireke celebration has gradually progressed into the status of a festival. It is described as a festival of unity and reunion of the people of Agbowa at home and in diaspora.

In an interview with our correspondents, the custodian of the Agbo Remireke deity, Oloye Olamishode Agbomabiwon, the Òsókó of Agbowa Ikosi land, stated the importance of the festival to the community.

“It is a very important celebration in the history of Agbowa Ikosi land. The festival brings peace, luck, tranquillity and success to the people of the community, opens the community to visitors and creates a great avenue for commerce” She said.

Over the years, the Agbo Remireke has grown in bounds. It has become a veritable tool for sociocultural development through it great tourism potentials and a fulfilment of one of the key objectives of the state government.

The Agbo Remireke festival celebration has been in existence since the 19th century. However, the celebration is not native to Agbowa Ikosi, its origin can be traced to Iwopin, a town by the Ijebu water side of Ogun State.