The Coordinator of Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu Ode, Prof Fassy Yusuf, on Tuesday said that this year’s celebration will be devoted to celebrating the indelible legacy of selflessness and the exemplary leadership of the late Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who died last year July at the age of 91 after reigning for 65-years.
Yusuf also debunked a narrative circulating on social media that the Ojude Oba festival would not be celebrated because of the transition of Oba Adetona, saying that the highly revered royal father had warned that nothing should hinder the annual celebration, even after his death.
This is just as the First Lady and the wife of the President, Sen Oluremi Tinubu, alongside Gov Dapo Abiodun and his wife, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, as well as the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, are expected to be the special guests of honour at this year’s festival, which is celebrated two days after the Muslim Eid-el-Kabir festival.
The Professor of Mass Communication disclosed this during a world press conference held at the Awujale palace on Tuesday.
He explained that the theme of this year’s festival, “Ojude Oba 2026: Celebrating The Legacy of Oba Sikiru Adetona”, was inspired by the remarkable life, enduring legacy, and monumental contributions of the late traditional ruler, whose reign was marked by uncommon courage, visionary leadership, unwavering devotion to the Ijebu people, and transformational strides in governance.
He stated that “Throughout his illustrious reign, Oba Adetona broke barriers, demystified age-long jinxes, redefined the institution of monarchy, and repositioned the Ijebu Nation on the global cultural and socio-political landscape.
“His leadership brought renewed prestige, unity, development, and pride to the traditional institution, while his wisdom and progressive disposition changed the narrative of kingship in Nigeria and beyond.
“The 2026 edition of Ojúdé Ọba Festival, therefore, serves not only as a celebration of culture and heritage, but also as a solemn tribute to the longest- reigning monarch in the history of Ijebuland — a revered royal icon whose legacies remain indelible and whose impact will continue to resonate across generations”.
He added that in recent times, certain voices and interests, through both traditional and social media platforms, had sought to create uncertainty around the continuity of the Ojude Oba Festival following the transition of the highly revered monarch, Oba Adetona
Yusuf stated that various campaigns and insinuations, particularly the “No Awujale, No Ojude Oba” narrative, sought to cast doubt on the future of this globally acclaimed cultural institution.
He disclosed that the history, tradition and the collective will of the Ijebu people have prevailed because the festival transcends personalities as it is a timeless cultural heritage deeply rooted in the identity, pride and unity of the Ijebu nation.
The Ijebu Ode High Chief revealed that suspending the festival because of the royal transition would not only have undermined decades of cultural preservation and economic advancement, but would also have inflicted immeasurable loss on the people and their traditions, the tourism potential, the economy and the global cultural standing.
He added that “Indeed, our highly respected late Kabiyesi himself made it abundantly clear that Ojude Oba must never be suspended on account of his passage or during any interregnum.
“According to his noble conviction, the festival remains a sacred cultural institution that must continue to flourish up to eternity.
“It is, therefore, with great pride, confidence and a deep sense of responsibility that we announce to the world today that the 2026 Ojude Oba Festival shall hold with all its grandeur and splendour by the grace of Almighty God.
“The festival remains alive, vibrant and firmly established as a unifying symbol of our ur heritage, our religious tolerance, our pride and our collective destiny as a people
“The grand finale of the 2026 edition of the Ojude Oba Festival is expected to hold on Friday, May 29, 2026, being two days after the celebration of Eid-el- Adha (Ileya Festival)”
This year’s edition of the festival is expected to witness the spectacular participation of about 90 male and female Age Grades (Regberegbe), all elegantly adorned in resplendent and richly coordinated traditional attires that reflect the depth, creativity, pride, and cultural sophistication of the Ijebu people.
Equally, 25 distinguished families of warlords and warrior lineages—renowned for their historic roles in defending the Ijebu kingdom before the colonial annexation of Ijebu, are expected to participate in the celebrated equestrian display and horse riding to the festival pavilion, where they pay homage to the Awujale
Historical accounts reveal that with the advent of Islam in Ijebuland, the reigning monarch granted adherents of the new faith the freedom to practise their religion peacefully and without discrimination.
This atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect fostered religious harmony within the kingdom.
Consequently, after the celebration of Eid-el-Adha (Ileya), members of the Muslim community would, on the third day, gather to pay homage to the monarch in appreciation of his goodwill, accommodation, and support for peaceful coexistence.
Over the years, this gesture of appreciation and gratitude gradually transformed into what is now known as the Ojude Oba Festival.
Today, the festival attracts millions of participants and visitors from across Nigeria and the diaspora, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Ijebu people.
More importantly, it remains a shining example of religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and communal harmony — a priceless cultural gift of the Ijebu nation to Nigeria and the world.
Credit: punchng.com
