03:21Thousands of visitors attended the Olojo Festival, an ancient celebration of heritage and creation from Yoruba mythology, in Ile Ife in Nigeria's Osun State on Saturday.
Footage shows festivalgoers in traditional dress, as some paid homage to the Yoruba Ooni (king) seated on stage. Local leaders can be seen greeting each other, as traditional music and dancing are performed.
The festival is deeply rooted in Yoruba history, as one festivalgoer explained.
"Olojo, it is a very important cultural event in all Yoruba land. It has been in existence since the arrival of Odua to this land. So it's about bringing peace, harmony to the Yoruba land and do away with all the evil things in the Yoruba land," he said.
People travelled from around the world to attend the festival. A visitor from Brazil noted why people are 'so much in love with Yoruba culture'.
"There we worship, we follow Orichas, you know, and here what this represents to us is that Ooni of Ife is our father, you know. And to me being here today, I am in the land of my ancestors," he said. "It is a fantastic opportunity for me to be here and also for people watching me all over the world right now."
The Olojo festival is a vibrant celebration that showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people native to Ife in southwestern Nigeria. The festival kicks off with events including the traditional Ayo Olopon game, a cultural talent hunt, and a discussion at the Olojo Festival colloquium. It continues with Ojo Ilagun, a community cleansing ceremony in Ile-Ife, and a message from the Ooni of Ife to the world.
Saturday saw Ojo Okemogun and the Aare cultural procession, while on Sunday the Ojo Ajoyo event was held, as well as the Adire Oodua Cultural Exchange Exhibition and community service awards. The festival concludes on Monday, September 30 with ancestral rituals and the final round of the cultural talent hunt.
'Bringing peace, harmony to the Yoruba land' - Olojo Festival in Nigeria's Ile-Ife connects community with ancestral rituals
Thousands of visitors attended the Olojo Festival, an ancient celebration of heritage and creation from Yoruba mythology, in Ile Ife in Nigeria's Osun State on Saturday.
Footage shows festivalgoers in traditional dress, as some paid homage to the Yoruba Ooni (king) seated on stage. Local leaders can be seen greeting each other, as traditional music and dancing are performed.
The festival is deeply rooted in Yoruba history, as one festivalgoer explained.
"Olojo, it is a very important cultural event in all Yoruba land. It has been in existence since the arrival of Odua to this land. So it's about bringing peace, harmony to the Yoruba land and do away with all the evil things in the Yoruba land," he said.
People travelled from around the world to attend the festival. A visitor from Brazil noted why people are 'so much in love with Yoruba culture'.
"There we worship, we follow Orichas, you know, and here what this represents to us is that Ooni of Ife is our father, you know. And to me being here today, I am in the land of my ancestors," he said. "It is a fantastic opportunity for me to be here and also for people watching me all over the world right now."
The Olojo festival is a vibrant celebration that showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people native to Ife in southwestern Nigeria. The festival kicks off with events including the traditional Ayo Olopon game, a cultural talent hunt, and a discussion at the Olojo Festival colloquium. It continues with Ojo Ilagun, a community cleansing ceremony in Ile-Ife, and a message from the Ooni of Ife to the world.
Saturday saw Ojo Okemogun and the Aare cultural procession, while on Sunday the Ojo Ajoyo event was held, as well as the Adire Oodua Cultural Exchange Exhibition and community service awards. The festival concludes on Monday, September 30 with ancestral rituals and the final round of the cultural talent hunt.
Thousands of visitors attended the Olojo Festival, an ancient celebration of heritage and creation from Yoruba mythology, in Ile Ife in Nigeria's Osun State on Saturday.
Footage shows festivalgoers in traditional dress, as some paid homage to the Yoruba Ooni (king) seated on stage. Local leaders can be seen greeting each other, as traditional music and dancing are performed.
The festival is deeply rooted in Yoruba history, as one festivalgoer explained.
"Olojo, it is a very important cultural event in all Yoruba land. It has been in existence since the arrival of Odua to this land. So it's about bringing peace, harmony to the Yoruba land and do away with all the evil things in the Yoruba land," he said.
People travelled from around the world to attend the festival. A visitor from Brazil noted why people are 'so much in love with Yoruba culture'.
"There we worship, we follow Orichas, you know, and here what this represents to us is that Ooni of Ife is our father, you know. And to me being here today, I am in the land of my ancestors," he said. "It is a fantastic opportunity for me to be here and also for people watching me all over the world right now."
The Olojo festival is a vibrant celebration that showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people native to Ife in southwestern Nigeria. The festival kicks off with events including the traditional Ayo Olopon game, a cultural talent hunt, and a discussion at the Olojo Festival colloquium. It continues with Ojo Ilagun, a community cleansing ceremony in Ile-Ife, and a message from the Ooni of Ife to the world.
Saturday saw Ojo Okemogun and the Aare cultural procession, while on Sunday the Ojo Ajoyo event was held, as well as the Adire Oodua Cultural Exchange Exhibition and community service awards. The festival concludes on Monday, September 30 with ancestral rituals and the final round of the cultural talent hunt.