Ojude Oba 2026: Ijebuland shuts down for first festival without the Awujale

Ijebu-Ode came to a vibrant standstill on Friday as the 2026 Ojude Oba festival kicked off in grand style, transforming the ancient town into a spectacular runway of culture, fashion, and tradition. This year’s celebration carries profound historical weight as the first edition since the passing of the revered Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who joined his ancestors last July after an unprecedented 65-year reign.

Despite concerns that the festival might be suspended during the royal transition, the event is holding as planned, with organisers revealing that the late monarch himself expressly warned against any break in celebration. The festival is dedicated to honouring his monumental legacy and lifelong commitment to Ijebu unity.

Top dignitaries graced the Awujale Palace pavilion for the cultural fiesta, including Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu. Seyi Tinubu’s arrival generated significant excitement among young attendees who cheered as he made his way into the venue.

The renowned Regberegbe age-grade societies stole the show, parading in bespoke aso-oke, majestic agbadas, and flamboyant geles, all perfectly complemented by heavy royal beads and the energetic rhythm of traditional drummers. No fewer than 25 distinguished families of warlords and warrior lineages are expected to participate in the celebrated horse-riding procession.

Fashion executive Farooq Oreagba, popularly known as “Mr Steeze” or “King of Cool,” became a major centre of attraction as he commanded attention riding through the arena on horseback. He appeared decked out in a crisp white agbada accented with striking purple embroidery, maintaining his now-famous cultural style.

Speaking ahead of the festival, the Coordinator of the Ojude Oba Festival Organising Committee, Professor Fassy Yusuf, emphasised the event’s significance beyond any single personality. “The Ojude Oba Festival transcends individuals; it is deeply rooted in the identity, pride and unity of the Ijebu people,” he stated. “Suspending the festival because of the royal transition would not only have undermined decades of cultural preservation but would also have inflicted immeasurable loss on our tourism potential and global cultural standing”.

Yusuf also disclosed the late monarch’s specific instructions regarding the festival’s continuity. “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”.

The Ogun State Police Command deployed no fewer than 2,500 operatives alongside armoured personnel carriers, patrol vehicles, and surveillance teams to ensure a hitch-free celebration. The security arrangement covered the Ojude Oba pavilion, major highways, hotels, markets, and other public spaces expected to witness heavy human and vehicular movement.

Beyond the glamorous photo opportunities and celebrity sightings, the historic gathering once again proved to be a massive catalyst for Ogun State’s local economy, drawing diaspora tourists, boosting grassroots trade, and cementing the festival as a premier hub for Nigerian cultural tourism.