Hi! 
It’s been a while since I’ve been here. Hope you’re all doing great!

So, Eid al-Adha just passed over the weekend, and it was a trip 😩.

In case you didn’t know, I’m Muslim and Nigerian, which means double the work and double the enjoyment, because if there’s one thing Nigerians know how to do, it’s pray and party.

So, back on topic!

Eid al-Adha just passed, and my weekend was swamped. I had to work from home through the holiday, and I’m stuck in traffic right now on my way to work as I’m writing this.

Here in Nigeria, Eid al-Adha is a BIG deal. Like big big. The Yoruba (my tribe and one of over 500 in Nigeria) call it Ìlẹ̀yà (pronounced "ee-leh-yah"), which translates to “it’s time to go home.”

As the name implies, it’s a time when Yoruba people come from other states back to their hometowns and “villages.” It’s such a big deal that even those outside the country save up to come back, which I think is wonderful if you can afford it.

It’s a time to meet with family you haven’t seen and heard from in a year or years (if you haven’t been able to attend the previous ones).

This year’s was a bit bittersweet for me. My aunt (my father’s elder sister) died earlier this year. She was the “glue” that held the family together. A week before Eid, she’d have been home and arranging things for us, making it easy and stress-free from our long trip.

But we are here to be educated and hyped!

So, if you have access to Nigerian content on the internet right now, you should have seen one or two things about the Ojude Oba Festival.

Ojude Oba is a vibrant, colorful cultural festival celebrated by the Ijebu people of Ogun State, Nigeria. Let’s get a quick background on what we are talking about!

Origin

The festival dates back centuries and is usually held two days after the Eid al-Adha prayers. It started as Muslims coming back home to pay homage to the king, the Awujale of Ijebu land, for his great leadership and protection. Over the years, it has evolved into a celebration of culture that welcomes other faiths and groups to join in.

Significance of the Festival

As I said before, it’s a time when people come back home to rest and relax with family and loved ones, reconnecting with their roots. It fosters unity and peace among the people, irrespective of tribe or religion, emphasizing communal ties. It also showcases our rich, vibrant culture to the world, highlighting the food, music, dance, fashion, and traditional customs on full display.

What Really Happens on Ojude Oba Day?

I’m still figuring out how Amaka works, so I don’t know if I can include audios, but there is a part of our Oriki (a form of Yoruba praise poetry that highlights the qualities, achievements, and lineage of a person, often used to inspire and honor them) that says:

"Ìgbá Ìjèbú, owó,

Kélébé Ìjèbú, owó,

Ìtọ̀ Ìjèbú, owó,

Dúdú Ìjèbú, owó,

Púpà Ìjèbú, owó,

Kèkèrè Ìjèbú, owó,

Àgbà Ìjèbú, owó."

What this translates to is:

"Calabash of Ijebu, money,

The mucus of Ijebu, money,

The spit of Ijebu, money,

Black (dark-skinned) of Ijebu, money,

Red (light-skinned) of Ijebu, money,

Young of Ijebu, money,

Elders of Ijebu, money."

Simply put, we are money 😌😎, and that’s on period. 

This shows in how we celebrate the Ojude Oba festival. A lot of money is spent to ensure each family or group creates a unique and memorable look for the audience for the whole year, trying to outdo themselves the next year.

Various age grades, known as 'Regberegbes,' participate in parades, displaying vibrant traditional attire and engaging in friendly competitions. (The women in the pictures provided are from one of these age groups).

I just learned from my mother that even in my 20s, I could join the age group since I am an indigene of the tribe. I always thought I had to wait till my 40s or so.

We have cultural parades that start from the family compounds of chiefly descendants who make their way to the palace to pay homage to the king. Instead of the palace itself, the families and groups go to the large stadium right opposite it. There, they perform special traditional prayers as well as dances and music to keep the spirit high.

The main event, at least for me, is the equestrian display. 
This is where the families I mentioned earlier come one by one to display beautiful feats on horseback. Be it the horses dancing to the beat of the drums with the rider on its back or other stunts to please the Awujale and the crowd.

I just realized I can’t share videos with you guys 😭. I’ll post a set of links, I guess, so you can see what it’s all about. 
Here is a link that shows a glimpse of my family, the Agbojo family. It’s an extended arm of the family, but the offer to ride with them is always an option. I’m thinking of saving up so I can get a horse to ride next year.

Would you come and watch me? 😂

Here is a link of a family’s young Miss making them proud. @Amakastudio, please give access for video posting or a tutorial on how to get it done. 
Just know that these videos don’t do the real deal justice.

It’s something you have to experience in person to fully appreciate. Just the thought of the sound of the drums and the locally made guns makes my heart pound as I write. 
All the more reasons for you to come experience it for yourselves.

Besides being a cultural blessing, the festival has some economic and social impacts as well:

The festival attracts tourists from within Nigeria and abroad, boosting local tourism and the economy.

It provides opportunities for local businesses, including vendors of food, crafts, and other goods, to thrive. For example, the aso oke (cloth weavers), tailors, makeup artists, horse renters, and caregivers, etc., will be eating good for the next few months.

By bringing together people from different backgrounds, the festival strengthens social bonds and promotes cultural exchange in the melting pot of culture that is Nigeria.

There have been some modern impacts that have also changed the way things are done. I’ve been attending Ojude Oba since I was coherent (probably before birth even), and it only recently began to get the recognition it truly deserves. 
With more media coverage and social media posts/retweets, a wide range of people now know what it is we do whenever we go home.

As the warm and inviting people we are, this is a great blessing for us. 
In recent years, government and corporate bodies have started sponsoring and involving themselves in the festival, thus adding to its size and operations.

I saw a post that the government was asking UNESCO to take an interest in the festival and give it the recognition it deserves worldwide. I personally think it’s something worth doing considering the effort and dedication put into each festival. 

So, if you’re looking to explore something new, celebrate culture, or just enjoy a vibrant festival, plan to visit the Ojude Oba festival next year. 
Trust me, it’s an experience you won’t forget. Let’s celebrate our roots and embrace new adventures together!

See you at Ojude Oba 2025! 😊✌️

Ps: Tell me if you learnt something new or if the links worked.