By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
The Organising Committee of the 2026 Ojude Oba Festival has declared that the annual cultural celebration will go on as scheduled despite the death of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, revealing that the monarch had expressly instructed that the festival must never be suspended during any interregnum.
The committee made this known during a press briefing at the Awujale Palace in Ijebu-Ode ahead of the 2026 edition of the globally acclaimed festival themed, “Ojude Oba 2026: Celebrating the Legacy of Oba Sikiru Adetona.”
The event attracted members of the organising committee, sponsors, cultural stakeholders and partners, with several exhibitors also displaying their products and services.
Addressing journalists, the festival coordinator, Professor Fassy Yusuf, said the clarification became necessary following speculations suggesting that the festival might not hold after the monarch’s passing. According to him, the late Awujale made it clear before his death that the cultural festival must continue regardless of any transition on the throne.
Yusuf explained that the 2026 edition would serve both as a celebration of Ijebu cultural heritage and a tribute to Oba Adetona, whose 65-year reign significantly shaped the social, cultural and economic development of Ijebuland.
He described the late monarch as a visionary ruler whose legacy remains deeply rooted in the identity and progress of the Ijebu people.
“The Ojude Oba Festival goes beyond any individual. It is a symbol of the unity, pride and heritage of the Ijebu nation,” Yusuf stated, dismissing recent insinuations and campaigns built around the slogan, “No Awujale, No Ojude Oba.”
According to him, suspending the festival because of the monarch’s death would have dealt a major blow to cultural preservation, tourism, commerce and the international reputation of Ijebuland.
He stressed that Oba Adetona strongly believed the festival should outlive generations and continue flourishing as a sacred cultural institution.
Yusuf further noted that although Ojude Oba began as an Islamic celebration over a century ago, it has evolved into a globally recognised cultural festival embraced by people of different religions and backgrounds, making it one of Nigeria’s strongest symbols of peaceful coexistence and religious harmony.
He said the grand finale of the festival, traditionally held on the third day after Eid-el-Kabir, attracts millions of visitors from across Nigeria and the diaspora yearly.
Among the major highlights of the celebration are the colourful outings by the various Regberegbe age-grade groups dressed in elaborate traditional attire, as well as the famous horse-riding parade by descendants of ancient Ijebu warlords.
The committee disclosed that at least 25 notable warrior families are expected to participate in the equestrian procession during the 2026 edition, with riders appearing in ceremonial displays reflecting the bravery, discipline and rich heritage of the Ijebu people.
Beyond its cultural appeal, Yusuf said the festival also promotes communal bonding, prayers, developmental initiatives and economic growth, as businesses across Ijebuland witness increased commercial activities before and during the celebration.
The organisers also revealed that Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has been invited as the Special Guest of Honour for the festival.
Other expected dignitaries include Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, his wife, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, and the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa.
The committee added that past editions of the festival had attracted several prominent personalities, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and business mogul Aliko Dangote.
