The 2025 Ojude Oba festival may have thrilled the people of Ijebu and Ogun State, but beyond the cultural celebration, it became a prime stage for Nigerian brands and celebrities to shine. From image building to brand alignment, many seized the moment to connect with fans and secure the spotlight.
Veteran musician, Ebenezer Obey, now in his 80s, was celebrated with youthful energy, drawing nostalgic cheers. Fuji legend Wasiu Ayinde dropped his royal demeanor to electrify the crowd with what he does best, music.
Kiekie lit up the stage with her performance, while Nollywood stars turned out in droves not just to attend, but to network and land endorsement deals. Ask Ibrahim Chatta, Lateef Adedimeji, and several others , they didn’t just show up, they made it count.
For brands, especially Glo, Nigeria’s trailblazing telecom giant and longtime major sponsor of the festival, Ojude Oba 2025 was arguably its most impactful edition yet. The event delivered on all fronts: massive attendance, unmatched brand visibility, and immersive consumer experiences. From Glo to Maltina and several other top players, Ojude Oba 2025 wasn’t just a celebration, it was a thriving marketplace.
Bit by bit, Ojude Oba is evolving into one of Africa’s most glamorous cultural showcases. The 2025 edition drew comparisons to iconic global festivals like London’s Notting Hill Carnival and the Hope Carnival. While Notting Hill is rooted in the celebration of Caribbean heritage famous for its music, dance, and culinary richness rather than celebrity fanfare, Ojude Oba is carving its own niche by blending culture, star power, and commercial appeal. The result? A festival that’s as much about tradition as it is about trend.
In much the same way, Ojude Oba 2025 served as a powerful platform for both emerging and established artists, offering valuable exposure and momentum. Though not strictly a celebrity-focused event, the festival’s scale and media reach made it a strategic space for stars to connect with wider audiences and promote new projects.
Its diverse programming and cultural depth have also earned it a reputation as Nigeria’s only truly self-sponsored carnival, thanks to the fierce competition among brands eager to associate with the Ojude Oba badge.
Much like the River Thames known in ancient times as Tamesis or Tamesa, and as the Isis through Oxford held symbolic and cultural significance for the United Kingdom in medieval times, Ojude Oba holds deep meaning for the Ijebus and millions of Nigerians in the diaspora. It is more than a festival; it is a cultural current that carries history, pride, and now, a new wave of economic and pop-cultural relevance.
Beyond its appeal to celebrities and brands, the Ojude Oba festival is also a vibrant vehicle for cultural preservation, particularly in the revival of traditional Yoruba clothing. In an age where modern fashion trends dominate, the festival stands as a bold reminder of the richness and relevance of Yoruba attire. It has sparked renewed interest among younger generations in indigenous fabrics, styles, and craftsmanship.
The 2025 edition was more than a cultural display it became a runway for Yoruba fashion designers to showcase their artistry. From contemporary twists on traditional agbada and iro and buba, to bold fusion pieces blending heritage with haute couture, designers drew deep inspiration from the festival’s cultural essence. In doing so, Ojude Oba is not just preserving Yoruba fashion, it’s redefining it for a new era.
Bursting with vibrant hues and intricate patterns, the Ojude Oba festival 2025 transformed Ijebu Ode into a living canvas ofcolourfull culture and customs. This captivating celebration, spanning two days, offered a mesmerising journey into the heart of Yoruba culture, where ancient traditions, spirituality, and art converge in a symphony of vivid expression.
The festival’s epicentre, the Awujale Pavilion in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria, became a breathtaking tapestry of customs and rituals for the 2025 edition, each thread intricately woven into the fabric of Yoruba heritage.
The duo of Juju Commander , Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi and king of Fuji music, Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, on Friday held the ancient town of Ijebu Ode spellbound at a superlative event organised by Globacom to kickstart the 2025 Ojude Oba celebrations.
This year’s Ojude Oba marks the 20th anniversary of Globacom’s sponsorship of the festival, during which it has helped transform it into a cultural icon and global tourist destination.
Tagged an “Evening with Glo “, it was a night of fun, splendid music, good cuisine and riveting jokes from the trio of Gbenga Adeyinka, Bash and Kiekie.
For more than two hours, the legendary Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi sang from his repertoire of music to which the audience which filled the Conference Hall venue to the brim, vibed and mimed.
Globacom explained that the “Evening with Glo” was organised to thank the Ijebu community for their support for the brand for 20 years of its sponsorship of Ojude Oba festival.
“We decided to bring together great sons and daughters of Ijebuland to celebrate our shared heritage, and indulge in the melodious rhythms that resonate deeply throughout Yorubaland”, the company stated.
Speaking on its choice of musicians for the event, Glo added that “the ageless icon and Juju music maestro, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, has contributed decades of good, sonorous and philosophical songs to our society. His songs are still as fresh and full of inspirational messages as they were yesterday”.
On KWAM 1, the company disclosed “For decades, King of Fuji, K1 De Ultimate, the Fuji master, has been a great part of the music firmament in Nigeria, with his unique brand of Fuji that has elicited huge interest”.
Eminent sons and daughters of Ijebuland including the Olori of Oba Awujale, Chief Mrs. Olukemi Adetona; the Coordinator of Ojude Oba Festival Planning Committee, Professor Fassy Yusuff, and member of the committee and Iyalode of Ijebuland, Chief Mrs. Bisi Osibogun, attended the event.
