Ojude Oba Will Hold Despite Awujale’s Death, Organisers Clarify

Organisers of the Ojude Oba Festival have dismissed reports suggesting the annual cultural celebration would be cancelled following the death of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

The Coordinator of the festival, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, said the 2026 edition would go ahead as planned and would be dedicated to celebrating the enduring legacy of the revered monarch, who died in July 2025 after a historic 65-year reign at the age of 91.

Speaking during a world press conference at the Awujale Palace in Ijebu Ode on Tuesday, Yusuf explained that the late monarch had expressly instructed that nothing should stop the festival, even after his passing.

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He dismissed social media campaigns such as “No Awujale, No Ojude Oba,” stressing that the festival goes beyond any individual and remains a vital cultural institution rooted in the identity, unity and heritage of the Ijebu people.

According to him, suspending the event due to the monarch’s transition would undermine years of cultural preservation, tourism growth and economic development associated with the globally celebrated festival.

This year’s edition is themed “Ojude Oba 2026: Celebrating the Legacy of Oba Sikiru Adetona,” in honour of the late monarch’s remarkable leadership, courage and contributions to Ijebuland.

Yusuf described Oba Adetona as a visionary ruler who redefined traditional leadership, strengthened unity and elevated the cultural and political relevance of Ijebuland on the global stage.

He added that the grand finale of the 2026 Ojude Oba Festival will hold on Friday, May 29, 2026, two days after Eid-el-Kabir, with major dignitaries expected, including First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa.

The festival is expected to feature about 90 Regberegbe (age-grade groups) dressed in coordinated traditional attire, alongside 25 warrior families and horse-riding lineages paying homage to the Awujale in the customary procession.

Originally established as a gathering of Muslims in Ijebuland paying homage to the monarch after Eid-el-Kabir, Ojude Oba has evolved into one of Nigeria’s most celebrated cultural festivals, attracting millions of visitors from across the country and the diaspora.

Yusuf reaffirmed that the festival remains a strong symbol of religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence and communal harmony, insisting that the legacy of the late Awujale would continue to shine through the annual celebration.