Festival of Tradition
The early history of the Oshogbo people is founded on spiritual beliefs. The Osun River goddess is credited with the founding and establishment of Oshogbo town.
Some describe her as the ‘Oso-Igbo’, the queen and original founder of Oshogbo town; thus, the Osun Oshogbo festival has been celebrated for centuries.
Festival Of Tradition explores the events and activities of the Osun festival. Osun-Oshogbo festival is celebrated annually in the month of August at the grove. The festival attracts thousands of Osun worshippers, spectators and tourists from all over the world. For the people of Oshogbo, Southwest, Nigeria, August is a month of celebration and cultural reunion with their ancestors. They believe the water from the Osun river is directly from the goddess and works miracles.
The Osun-Oshogbo Festival is a two-week-long programme that starts with the traditional cleansing of the town; 'Iwopopo', followed in three days by the lighting of the over 500-year-old sixteen-point lamp; 'Ina Olojumerindinlogun'. Then comes the 'Ibroriade', an assemblage of the crowns of the past ruler, Ataojas of Osogbo, for blessings.
The grand finale event is led by the sitting Ataoja of Osogbo, the Arugba, Yeye Osun and a committee of priestesses.