The organisers of the famous Ojude Oba Festival have revealed that the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, gave clear instructions that the cultural celebration must continue even after his death.
The committee made this known while speaking on preparations for the upcoming edition of the festival, which remains one of Nigeria’s biggest and most celebrated cultural events. According to the organisers, the monarch believed the festival had become a symbol of identity, unity, and heritage for the Ijebu people and should never be allowed to fade away.
Held annually in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, the Ojude Oba Festival takes place on the third day after Eid-el-Kabir and attracts thousands of visitors from within and outside Nigeria. The event is widely recognised for its colourful display of Yoruba culture, fashion, music, horse-riding processions, and regberegbe age-grade parades.
Over the years, the festival has evolved into a major tourism and cultural attraction, gaining global attention through social media and celebrity participation. Recent editions especially drew widespread admiration online for their elaborate traditional outfits, luxury horse displays, and celebration of Ijebu heritage.
Speaking on the continuity of the event, members of the organising committee reportedly stated that the late monarch consistently emphasized that Ojude Oba was bigger than any individual ruler. They added that historical records show the festival had survived different transitions in the past and would continue to thrive for generations to come.
Professor Fassy Yusuf, one of the festival coordinators, reportedly described Ojude Oba as “an institution and not an individual,” while reassuring the public that the festival would still hold despite the current vacancy on the Awujale stool.
Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for several decades as the Awujale of Ijebuland, was widely credited with elevating the status of the festival and helping transform it into an internationally recognised cultural event. Under his leadership, Ojude Oba became more than a royal gathering, evolving into a global celebration of Yoruba tradition and pride.
As preparations continue for the next edition, anticipation is already building among culture enthusiasts, tourists, and members of the Ijebu community who are expected to gather once again for the colourful annual celebration. Many Nigerians are also looking forward to the return of the iconic horse-riding families, age-grade groups, and fashion showcases that have become major highlights of the festival.
The upcoming edition is expected to carry even deeper emotional significance as it will also serve as a tribute to the late Awujale and his enduring impact on Ijebuland’s cultural heritage.
