2026 Ojude Oba festival to honour late Awujale’s legacy — Coordinator
The Coordinator of the Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu Ode, Prof Fassy Yusuf, has said that the 2026 edition of the festival will be dedicated to celebrating the legacy of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who died in July last year at the age of 91 after a 65-year reign. Yusuf made this known on Tuesday during a world press conference held at the Awujale palace in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. He dismissed claims circulating on social media suggesting that the festival would be suspended following the monarch’s death, insisting that the late Awujale himself insisted that the celebration must continue regardless of his passing. According to him, “Ojude Oba must never be suspended on account of his passage or during any interregnum.” He added that the 2026 edition is themed “Ojude Oba 2026: Celebrating The Legacy of Oba Sikiru Adetona,” noting that it would serve as both a cultural celebration and a tribute to the late monarch’s enduring impact. Yusuf described the late Awujale as a visionary ruler whose reign transformed traditional leadership in Ijebuland and strengthened unity, development, and cultural pride. He said concerns that the festival would not hold due to the transition of the monarch were unfounded, stressing that Ojude Oba is a cultural heritage that goes beyond individual rulers. “The festival remains a sacred cultural institution that must continue to flourish,” he said. The coordinator also disclosed that the grand finale of the 2026 celebration is scheduled for Friday, May 29, 2026, two days after Eid al-Adha. According to him, this year’s event will feature about 90 male and female age-grade groups (Regberegbe), as well as 25 warrior families who will participate in traditional horse-riding displays. He noted that the festival continues to attract millions of participants from across Nigeria and the diaspora, serving as a symbol of religious tolerance, unity, and cultural identity of the Ijebu people.
Arun1
May 19, 2026
