The Osho Igbein Mekun Ruling House of Egba Alake has celebrated the 160th anniversary of Ayikondu Day with a colourful display of Egba cultural heritage, traditional symbols and historical remembrance in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The two-day programme, organised through the family of Balogun Osho Ayikondu, was held at the Balogun Osho Ayikondu Family Compound, beside Mrs Petrol Station, Grammar School, Isale Igbein, Abeokuta.
The annual Ogun Ajobo Ilu Igbein Egba Land Festival was held on Monday, September 21, 2026, while the 160th Ayikondu Day followed on Tuesday, September 22.
The celebrations brought together members of the Osho Ayikondu family, traditional stakeholders, cultural enthusiasts, relatives and other guests to commemorate what the organisers described as an important chapter in the history of Igbein and Egbaland.
The family said the celebration was designed not only to honour the memory of Balogun Osho Ayikondu, whom it described as the first Balogun of Egbaland in Abeokuta, but also to deepen awareness of the historical and cultural heritage of the Igbein community.
The events featured traditional regalia, cultural displays and historical symbols associated with the Ayikondu family and Igbein heritage.
According to historical references contained in the festival materials, the tradition is linked to the period 1830–1866, while the Ayikondu emblem bears the period 1845–1866.
The family said the historical references underscore the significance attached to the commemoration and the need for younger generations to understand the contributions of their forebears to the development of Egba society.
The organisers urged younger members of the community to take greater interest in their history and preserve the cultural values inherited from previous generations.
The family said, “The 160th Ayikondu Day is an opportunity to honour the past while strengthening cultural consciousness for future generations.”
It added that preserving historical memory remained important to maintaining the identity of Igbein and Egbaland.
The celebration also provided an avenue for members of the family and traditional stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to safeguarding the cultural heritage associated with the Osho Igbein Mekun Ruling House.
The family expressed appreciation to traditional institutions, relatives, guests and supporters who participated in the two-day programme.
It said the continued observance of the annual festival and Ayikondu Day would help keep alive the history, traditions and cultural identity of Igbein and Egbaland.
The organisers further described the commemoration as a bridge between the past and the future, stressing that knowledge of ancestral history remained essential to sustaining cultural identity among younger generations.
The 2026 celebration therefore combined remembrance with cultural preservation, placing the historical legacy of Balogun Osho Ayikondu and the heritage of Igbein at the centre of activities in Abeokuta.
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