The Ojude Oba Festival Cultural Significance

The Ojude Oba Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the Yoruba people of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

It is a colourful celebration that showcases the rich culture and ancestry of the Ijebu people.

The festival holds on the second day of Eid-el-Kabir, the Muslim festival of sacrifice.

It was established during the reign of the Awujale of Ijebu-Ode, Oba Adesimbo Tunwase (ABOKI). He ruled Ijebu from February 1886 to 1895.

He is the 47th Awujale of Ijebu Ode. During his reign, he provided land to the Muslims for their annual Eid prayers. Following this, the Balogun Kuku and Ijebu Muslims established the Ojude Oba festival. This annual festival serves as an homage to the king.

The literal translation of “Ojude Oba” to English is “The King’s Palace.” The festival is one of the biggest and most anticipated festivals to be conducted in Nigeria.

At the festival, the children of influential families in the kingdom parade on horses and pay their respects to His Royal Majesty and celebrate his legacy.

Furthermore, one of the most important aspects of the festival is the parade of the various age grades (regberegbe) in the Ijebu community. A group of young men represent each age grade by dressing in colourful costumes and performing traditional dances.

Over the years, the Ojude Oba Festival has evolved into a major cultural event that attracts people from all over Nigeria and beyond. The festival is a time for the Ijebu people to come together and celebrate their king and their culture. They show up in cultural attires looking dandy and radiant.

Also, the horses play a significant role during the festival. They adorn their bodies in colourful material and beads. Members of influential families ride them during their parades.

A mock war is another performance that is displayed during this event. The Baloguns or family heads perform a sort of reenactment of war scenes. The horses do a variety of stunts like trotting rhythmically or standing on their hind legs. Occasionally, the Dane guns are fired to make thunderous sounds, adding to the electrifying atmosphere.

Showing up in your finest regalia is taken very seriously during this festival. Aside from dressing the part, it also aims to show the economical standard of families wearing the most exquisite attires available. Additionally, different families make sure to wear the same colours, patterns and styles as a way of standing out during this grand festival.

This year’s Ojude Oba festival was nothing short of a spectacle. Pictures and videos from the event have been making rounds on the internet, quickly going viral.

The standout ones that are worth mentioning include the lady with the viral “D&G” glasses, decked in gold and traditional accessories. Another honourable mention is Mr. Farooq Oreagba, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NG Clearing Limited. Mr. Farooq looked like a don in a yellow and green Agbada with traditional Yoruba beads, a smartwatch, and a cigar in hand.