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The ancient town of Ijebu-Ode was awash with colour, heritage, and cultural pride on Sunday as it hosted the 2025 edition of the Ojude Oba Festival one of Nigeria’s most revered cultural celebrations. Held annually on the third day after Eid al-Kabir, the festival drew thousands of Ijebu sons and daughters, cultural enthusiasts, tourists, and dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond.
This year’s event, held in the forecourt of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona’s palace, was a spectacle of cultural expression, marked by elaborate traditional attire, processions of horse-riding families, and the vibrant displays of regberegbe (age-grade groups).
Age-Grade Pageantry and Homage to the Monarch
As is tradition, the various regberegbe groups took centre stage, marching elegantly through the streets in dazzling aso-oke fabrics and coordinated accessories. Each group presented choreographed dances, chants, and paid homage to the Awujale, who observed the event from a royal canopy flanked by high-ranking chiefs and distinguished guests.
The regberegbe system a social organisation of Ijebu natives according to age remains a defining feature of the festival and a symbol of communal unity and civic responsibility.
Horse-Riding Warriors and Royal Elegance
Another major highlight of the festival was the parade of warriors led by the Balogun and Elesin families who stormed the arena on magnificently adorned horses. Their arrival was met with applause, drumming, and intermittent gun salutes, in a rousing display of martial heritage and ancestral honour.
Among the standout riders was Farooq Oreagba, Executive Director of the Nigerian Exchange Group, who returned this year as one of the most photographed personalities at the festival. Dressed in a brown three-piece aso-oke suit, coral beads, leather gloves, and dark sunglasses, Oreagba once again captured the admiration of younger attendees and social media users alike.
Dignitaries and Economic Impact
The Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, was among the dignitaries present. In her remarks, she praised the Ijebu community for preserving its cultural values and described Ojude Oba as “a national asset that exemplifies Nigeria’s cultural richness”.
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The festival also delivered a significant economic boost to Ijebu-Ode. Hotels were fully booked, street vendors enjoyed brisk sales, and transport services operated at full capacity. Traders showcased local crafts, delicacies, and fabrics, benefiting from the influx of visitors and returnees from the diaspora.
Ojude Oba, which loosely translates as “the king’s forecourt”, originated in the 19th century when early Muslim converts began paying homage to the Awujale after the Eid festival. Over time, it has evolved into a grand convergence of culture and faith, promoting unity among Muslims, Christians, and traditionalists in Ijebuland.
“The festival showcases how religion and culture can coexist harmoniously,” said Chief Ayodele Shote, a senior member of one of the age-grade groups. “It is both a homecoming and a call to preserve our heritage.”
The 2025 edition stood out for its creative flair, youth engagement, and robust digital presence. The festival was not just a cultural showcase but a reaffirmation of identity, history, and collective pride.
