Ilorin Durbar bonds Emirates

The annual Durbar traditional celebration in Ilorin emirate has attracted indigenes, friends and well wishers for social, cultural and economic bonding.

Our correspondent reports that the festival, which holds a day after Eid-el-Adha, on Thursday featured colourful horse riding and other local displays.

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, and Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara led other dignitaries to celebrate the festival.

The first class traditional ruler and Chairman of the state Traditional Council of Chiefs and AbdulRazaq joined other members of Ilorin emirate to mounted their decorated horses as part of the cultural ceremony.

The event also attracted traditional title holders, thousands of Ilorin sons and daughters as well as residents and visitors.

The governor congratulated the people of the emirate on the celebration, which honoured Sheikh Alimi, projected the valour of its people and unite the community, as well as boosts local commerce.

The celebrants paraded several horses mounted by the young and old to welcome the Emir’s large entourage of royal courtiers to their foyers, keeping alive the long-standing tradition.

The royal carriage moved round with many other family houses and Daudus, including Basambo, Abojumeji, Agaka Isale, Ajia Sakasaka, Bayero, Jiddah, Baboko, Magaji Ngeri, Taiwo, Ita Amodu, Afin and Ita Kure.

ThenMutawali of Ilorin, Dr Alimi Abdulrazaq, and few royal chiefs were also on the train, including the Ciroma of Ilorin, Mayaki of Ilorin and Magaji Ngeri of Ilorin.

Speaking during the occasion, the governor thanked Almighty Allah for making it possible to witness another Durbar of Ilorin emirate.

“It is a significantly important culture to the people of Ilorin emirate, which we commemorate every year.

“This event unifies and bring us all together to be our brother’s keeper,” said AbdulRazaq.

The Chairman of the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee, Alhaji Yahaya Alapansanpa, said the festival proclaimed its uniqueness as it has become totally unique, compared with what is obtainable in other emirates.

He thanked the Emir for revitalising the cultural festival, noting that since it was reintroduced in 2018, Ilorin emirate has never remained the same, especially in the realms of culture and economic development.