…Omo olókè tó mòkè ngùn “

A clear sky soars above the gently winding Akure-Idanre road, and the bright sun accentuates the brightly coloured jerseys of a hundred marathon athletes dotting the stretch between the two towns. It is Mare festival day 2, and the events had been kicked off by a marathon race from Akure  to Idanre towns- a distance of 13km.

Enthusiastic school children line the main road, waving small Nigerian flags and cheering up the weary athletes as they run through the villages. Numerous villagers had also returned early from their farms and had taken seats under shades of trees along the road so as not to miss the Mare marathon race.

– School children line the road side cheering the athletes as they pass through the villages.

– One of the athletes bursts a sachet of “pure water” and pours its content on his hurting scalp.

-Families sit in front of their houses to watch the passing athletes.

-Farmers return early from their farms so as not to miss the passing athletes.

-The athlete is tired and has resorted to walking rather than jogging (Alade town in the background).

-The road gets steeper as they approach Idanre town.

Drops of sticky sweat wet the tarred road at different places, and dusty running boots dry them up as able bodied men and women race for the prize of the winner athlete.

Some of the runners had started getting tired and had resorted to walking; others keep jugging despite the fatigue rocking their frames; while some others quench their thirsts with sachets of “pure water” handed them by compassionate passer-bys.

It’s Màré festival, and it’s all about being the strongest athlete in the land, therefore, they must not ‘ré’ (fall) by the way side. Between Alade and Idanre towns, the topography runs wild, rising and falling with crests and troughs along steep rock slopes and heavily forested valleys.

Concurrently, rustic Idanre children had begun contesting for the junior category champion mountain climber of the Mare 2011 . The challenge was to climb horizontally through a 7m stretch of steep rock face, using small pegs of wood on the rock as support.

It was tough and onerous, and of the fifteen kids that partook in the contest, only six made it to the finish peg. Villagers and foreigners formed an arc around the foot hill, watching with rapt attention and great apprehension as each kid climbed the pegs.

Under a nearby tree, one of the Italian mountain climbers taught the village kids the art of rope walking, while others took to the steep slopes of Ojimoba and climbed to it peak about 400 m high.

The events of the day ended with several performances and displays from various cultural troops within the State. Numerous Nollywood stars also showed up at the venue, among which were Ebun Oloyede (Olaiya) and Sunday Omobolanle (Pa Aluwe).

– Entrance to the Methodist Grammar School, venue of the Mare Festival in Idanre. The massive Ojimoba Hill at the background.

-The steep Ojimoba Hill- the challenge of the mountain climbers.

-One of the Nigerian mountain climbers.

-One of the international mountain climbers ascends Ojimoba

-The first contestant in the Junior category mountain climbing challenge.

-The climbing gets tough.

-Yayyy!! He makes it to finish peg.

- Second contestant takes up the challenge.

– The climbing gets tough……and he falls off the rock- Disqualified!!

-More kids take up the challenge.

-Some of the kids climbed the surrounding trees to get a better view of their friends partaking in the contest.

-International mountain climbers pose for a photograph with the junior climbers.

-Nearby, one of the international mountain climbers teaches the kids the art of rope walking.

  – More Nollywood stars show up at the event. (Foreground- Ebun Oloyede a.k.a “Olaiya”, Background- Sunday Omobolanle a.k.a “Pa Aluwe”).

- Nollywood actor, Sunday Omobolanle a.k.a Pa Aluwe.

-Ara, the famous female gángan drummer.

Related Posts:

- Idanre Lights up with Mare Festival Day-1 

Filed under: Culture, Festival, Travel, Travelogue