Lagos State Government has declared Thursday, August 20, 2026, a work-free day, as over three million residents are expected to join the celebrations for the 2026 Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day.
The declaration will apply to public servants, government offices, and public schools across the state, with normal activities expected to resume on Friday.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Idris Aregbe, described Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day as more than a public holiday, saying it represents a celebration of Yoruba spirituality, culture, and indigenous identity.
“Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” Aregbe said.
He said the Yoruba cultural tradition had a global following, with Ìṣẹ̀ṣe-related festivals and practices maintained by communities in Brazil, Cuba, and the Caribbean.
Aregbe said the celebrations in Lagos would therefore form part of a wider global expression of Yoruba heritage.
“When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, and in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the center of a global heritage,” he said.
Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day marks the culmination of a week-long programme of traditional activities across the state.
The state government has observed the day as a work-free day since 2023, following a request by the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has maintained the declaration annually as part of his administration’s emphasis on indigenous culture, religious inclusiveness, and cultural tourism under the THEMES+ agenda.
Aregbe commended the governor for continuing to support the celebration, describing the decision as a demonstration of commitment to preserving indigenous heritage.
He also paid tribute to the traditional institution, including the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, royal fathers, White Cap Chiefs, Babaláwo, and Ìyánífá. Olóòrìṣà and other custodians of Yoruba traditions.
“It takes real conviction for a leader to stand publicly with heritage, and he has done so without hesitation and without apology,” Aregbe said.
“Governments come and go. Custodians carry the culture.”
This year’s Ìṣẹ̀ṣe celebrations will feature prayers, traditional rites, processions, drumming, and cultural displays dedicated to the Òrìṣà.
The activities are being coordinated by the Association of African Traditional Religion Nigeria and Overseas, AATREN.
Aregbe urged participants to conduct themselves peacefully and respect people of other faiths during the celebrations.
He stressed that the recognition of indigenous religious traditions was not intended to exclude Christians or Muslims.
“Whether you worship in a mosque, a church, or a grove, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day belongs to you, because heritage has no denomination,” he said.
He described Lagos as a city where different cultural and religious traditions could coexist and flourish.
The celebration comes amid growing efforts to promote Yoruba heritage, indigenous spirituality, and cultural tourism in Nigeria and among the global Yoruba diaspora.
Aregbe concluded with the traditional expression:
“Ìṣẹ̀ṣe la gbà, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe a gbè wá o.”
Packaged by Alaba Igbaraola
