03:34Thousands of Nigerian worshippers and tourists took part in the annual Osun-Osogbo water festival to pray to the fertility goddess Yoruba.
Footage captured on Friday shows locals dressed in bright colours praying by the river and collecting water. Some can be seen being possessed by the Osun river goddess, while others including Arugba, the virgin girl believed to be her votary maid, can be seen bringing sacrifices.
"We bring sacrifices to this river to bring joy. Anyone who has faith and applies water from this river to their body shall experience transformation. This is why people, both Nigerians and foreigners, come to this place," explained Osun priestess Modinatu Opeyemi.
Tourists could be seen at the event, some having visited to experience a culture they are connected to.
"It's a remarkable festival. Osun is one of the foremost goddesses in the Yoruba pantheons. I wanted to be here to witness, and also experience it," said tourist Peter. "It's been lovely to see everyone get excited, and even some of the displays of the pantheons and some people getting taken in by their worship. It's been amazing. I love that I've come to connect with my culture this way," he explained.
Meanwhile, the local authorities warned worshippers not to drink water from the Osun River due to pollution, while noting that they could not put an outright ban on drinking it.
The Osun Oshogbo festival has been celebrated for around 600 years and is seen as a way of expressing gratitude to the gods.
'We bring sacrifices to this river to bring joy' - Thousands of devotees attend Nigeria's Osun-Osogbo water festival
Thousands of Nigerian worshippers and tourists took part in the annual Osun-Osogbo water festival to pray to the fertility goddess Yoruba.
Footage captured on Friday shows locals dressed in bright colours praying by the river and collecting water. Some can be seen being possessed by the Osun river goddess, while others including Arugba, the virgin girl believed to be her votary maid, can be seen bringing sacrifices.
"We bring sacrifices to this river to bring joy. Anyone who has faith and applies water from this river to their body shall experience transformation. This is why people, both Nigerians and foreigners, come to this place," explained Osun priestess Modinatu Opeyemi.
Tourists could be seen at the event, some having visited to experience a culture they are connected to.
"It's a remarkable festival. Osun is one of the foremost goddesses in the Yoruba pantheons. I wanted to be here to witness, and also experience it," said tourist Peter. "It's been lovely to see everyone get excited, and even some of the displays of the pantheons and some people getting taken in by their worship. It's been amazing. I love that I've come to connect with my culture this way," he explained.
Meanwhile, the local authorities warned worshippers not to drink water from the Osun River due to pollution, while noting that they could not put an outright ban on drinking it.
The Osun Oshogbo festival has been celebrated for around 600 years and is seen as a way of expressing gratitude to the gods.
Thousands of Nigerian worshippers and tourists took part in the annual Osun-Osogbo water festival to pray to the fertility goddess Yoruba.
Footage captured on Friday shows locals dressed in bright colours praying by the river and collecting water. Some can be seen being possessed by the Osun river goddess, while others including Arugba, the virgin girl believed to be her votary maid, can be seen bringing sacrifices.
"We bring sacrifices to this river to bring joy. Anyone who has faith and applies water from this river to their body shall experience transformation. This is why people, both Nigerians and foreigners, come to this place," explained Osun priestess Modinatu Opeyemi.
Tourists could be seen at the event, some having visited to experience a culture they are connected to.
"It's a remarkable festival. Osun is one of the foremost goddesses in the Yoruba pantheons. I wanted to be here to witness, and also experience it," said tourist Peter. "It's been lovely to see everyone get excited, and even some of the displays of the pantheons and some people getting taken in by their worship. It's been amazing. I love that I've come to connect with my culture this way," he explained.
Meanwhile, the local authorities warned worshippers not to drink water from the Osun River due to pollution, while noting that they could not put an outright ban on drinking it.
The Osun Oshogbo festival has been celebrated for around 600 years and is seen as a way of expressing gratitude to the gods.