Osun-Osogbo Festival: The Votary Virgin, the 600 Year old Lamp

Culture and ancestral heritage is a major feat in Nigeria and have been practiced for centuries. It attracts tourists, worshippers, spectators, festivals and reunion. We focus our beam in the South-Western Nigeria, Osun State, capital, Osogbo. The Osun-Osogbo festival.

The folklore behind the festival posits that 700 years ago when Osogbo was founded, a goddess promised to protect the people of the land and also make the women fruitful and in return there would be a seasonal sacrifice in her honor.

Further into the 1950s, a remarkable impact by the Australian born artist Susanne Sawyer is a thing of note. She was fascinated by the culture of the Yoruba people, worked closely with the priests at the time. Eventually, became a Yoruba priestess Iwinfunmi Adunni Olorisha ‘the loved one who or serves the deity.’

Susanne Sawyer’s notable contribution to the August festival encompasses her zeal in picking up the important details that govern the Yoruba culture. But as the guardian of the Sacred Grove of Osun goddess on the banks of the Osun River in Oshogbo. Until her death on the 12th of January, 2009 she protected the forest and its animals from and poaching and the rivers from indiscriminate fishing for sport.

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Building from the laid down history, in August annually, there is a two-week ceremony and this year 2019 was no exception. The land cleansing ritual, the local fireworks, the virgin walk, games, and son on.

Iwopopo: This is like every other Nigerian festival to mark the ceremony is a kickoff. Legend says its a ritual to purify the land from accumulated evil.

Ina Olujumerindinlogun: There days after the opening ceremony, the fascinating illumination of a 16-point relic lamp (600 years old).

Iboriade: This ritual is when the crowns of past Ataojas kings are paraded for prayers by the Ataoja of Osogbo and his council (Arugba, Yeye Osun and a committee of priestesses)

Arugba: A maiden without blemish carries a calabash on her head containing sacrifice that are supposedly used to pacify the goddess. The maiden leads the procession of people through the city and then to the river. She is seen as the representative of the goddess, thus, prayers and supplications are offered at the sight of her.

Arugba : Pic Credit IG: Osun Osogbo

Other fascinations included in the Osun-Osogbo festival are the tourist attractions (The Ibodi Forest reserves, the Oluuminrin waterfalls at Erin –Ijesha, the Oranmiyan staff (an object carved in a cone shape to represent the third Ooni of Ife and the youngest son of the Oduduwa), Susan Wenger’s house and center, Play ground where the famous Ayo Olopon game is being played and also exchange of goods and services to mark the festival.

Oluuminrin waterfalls Pic Credit: IG Osun OsogboIbodi Forest reserves Pic Credit: IG Osun OsogboOranmiyan’s Staff Pic Credit: IG Osun OsogboNative Ayo Olopon competition Pic Credit: IG Osun Osogbo

Guests at the  Osun – Osogbo festival includes; Esquire Global, Nigerian breweries, NBC, Esquire Global, traditional rulers and a host of others.

The Osun – Osogbo festival is deep with culture and a stimulating experience. This is also a continuation to the series of beauty and diversity Nigeria encapsulates.