By 2025 Ojude Oba Festival
A display of unity and harmony
Summary
- Over a million attendees celebrated Ijebu heritage at the 2025 Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu-Ode
- Vibrant regberegbe parades and equestrian displays honored the Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona
- Governor Dapo Abiodun praised the festival’s role in promoting cultural unity and tourism
Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state — The 2025 Ojude Oba festival, held today, June 8, transformed Ijebu-Ode into a vibrant spectacle of culture, unity, and tradition, drawing over a million attendees, including locals, diaspora, and international tourists.
Held on the third day after Eid al-Adha at the Awujale’s palace forecourt, the festival celebrated Ijebu heritage under the theme “Ojude Oba: Unity and Harmony, Our Gift.”
The event kicked off with prayers led by the imam of Ijebuland, followed by the national anthem, Ogun state anthem, Awujale anthem, and Ijebu lineage praise.
Regberegbe age-grade groups, such as Obafuwaji, Bobakeye, and Gbobalaye, stole the show with their colorful parades, donning custom Aso Oke and sanyan outfits in a fierce yet friendly competition for the best-dressed title.
The baloguns and their descendants showcased breathtaking equestrian displays, with horses adorned in ornate beadwork, reenacting Ijebu’s martial past through mock wars and ceremonial gun salutes.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, the state governor and special guest, lauded the festival’s role in fostering unity and boosting tourism, noting its potential for UNESCO recognition. “Ojude Oba is a gift to Nigeria, showcasing our strength in diversity,” he said.
Other dignitaries, including traditional rulers and corporate leaders from sponsors like Globacom and First City Monument Group, joined the Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, whose 65-year reign was a focal point of celebration.
Cultural performances electrified the crowd, with Bata drums, traditional dances, and music from stars like Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1). Local vendors thrived, selling jollof rice, suya, and pounded yam, while the festival’s fashion parade, dubbed West Africa’s biggest cultural runway, trended on social media platforms like X.
Chief Olu Okuboyejo, chairman of the Ojude Oba planning committee, hailed the event’s success, emphasizing its inclusivity across Muslim, Christian, and traditionalist communities. “This is Ijebu pride on global display,” he said.
With an estimated 100 million global participants expected via livestreams, the festival underscored its economic impact, filling hotels and boosting local businesses.
No doubt, Ijebu-Ode buzzed with pride and attendees left with memories of a festival that not only honored the Awujale but also celebrated the enduring spirit of unity and harmony in Nigeria’s cultural heartland.
