Sir Engr. Adokiye Tombomieye Honoured at Ancient Bille Kingdom, Opens Agiri Festival

The ancient Bille Kingdom was a centre of cultural splendour and ancestral reverence as Sir Engr. Adokiye Tombomieye is honoured by his people during the opening ceremony of the revered Agiri Festival.

Sophisticated in outlook yet deeply rooted in tradition, Sir Engr. Tombomieye performed the sacred traditional rites that officially signalled the commencement of the Agiri Festival, an event of profound spiritual and cultural significance to the Bille people. The rite, carried out in accordance with age-long customs, reaffirmed the enduring bond between the kingdom, its ancestors, and its living heritage.

The Agiri Festival occupies a special place in the cultural calendar of the Bille Kingdom. It is a celebration that embodies history, identity, and communal unity, passed down through generations. The festival is upheld and preserved by the Ekine Seki Apu, the revered traditional institution entrusted with safeguarding the cultural expressions, rituals, and performances that define the people’s way of life.

Dignitaries, chiefs, elders, youths, and cultural enthusiasts gathered to witness the historic moment, marked by traditional music, symbolic performances, and expressions of pride in the kingdom’s rich heritage. The honour accorded to Sir Engr. Tombomieye reflects his standing among his people and his contributions to the preservation and promotion of culture, development, and communal values.

As the Agiri Festival unfolds, it continues to serve as a platform for cultural renewal, education of younger generations, and the strengthening of communal bonds, reinforcing the Bille Kingdom’s commitment to preserving its ancestral legacy in a rapidly changing world.