It was an eventful day in the land of traditional dye when thousands across all walks of life stormed the ancient city to celebrate the annual Osun Osogbo festival and pay homage to the River Goddess at the sacred grove.
This year’s festival started on Monday, July 28, but the most important part, which is the spiritual journey or sacred procession to the River Osun grove, where faithfuls and cultural enthusiasts would meet the goddess of plenty, fertility, and surplus, took place today, Friday, August 8.
Osun-Osogbo is one of the most important and globally accepted cultural festivals in Nigeria. According to findings, it is simply a renewal of a sacred agreement/contract between the first settlers in Osogbo, the River Goddess, and forest spirits.
The efficacy of the water cannot be altered by the color or contamination, according to faithfuls, despite the fact that the yellowish hue of the river, which may have been cuased by mining activities in Ijesaland, worried several people. The water body is still considered sacred and spiritual.
The traditional cleansing of Osogbo, known as “Iwopopo,” on July 28 and the lighting of the 500-year-old six-point lamp known as “Atupa oloju merindinlogun,” which occurs three days after the land is cleansed, are major spiritual events that have defined the twelve days.
Venerating the Ataoja crown in remembrance of former monarchs is known as “Bibo Ade Oba Osogbo.” “Dida Ifa arugba,” in which a young, chaste woman from a royal family makes offerings to the god. ‘Osun Ajigun’ is the festival’s last event.
A NEW DEVELOPMENT?
During the Osun-Osogbo festival, it is an age-long tradition that a young virgin who is the Arugba must carry the sacred calabash to meet the Goddess of fertility at the sacred River Osun Grove. It is widely believed that there’s a link between the sacred calabash, the River Osun Goddess, and Arugba.
Recall that the former Arugba Osun named Osuntomi Ewatomi got married last year in August after she had carried the sacred calabash for 12 years.
According to traditions, a new Arugba Osun, who must be a young virgin, is selected from the royal family of the current Ataoja of Osogbo with the guidance of the Ifa Oracle.
A 9-year-old virgin named Alimot Osunbunmi was announced in the month of March as the new Arugba Osun to perform the sacred duty on the procession day.
A TWIST?
A male priest carried the sacred calabash from the shrine to the River Osun forest during this year’s festival, which appeared to be a significant deviation from tradition.
In its 2022 report titled “Osun-Osogbo festival: River Goddess without her ‘sacred water’ (PHOTOS),” WITHIN NIGERIA revealed how a male Osun Chief Priest, also known as BABA OSUN, aided the then-Arugba in carrying the sacred calabash for a few metres.
This time, a male, later identified as Adesina, the Osun Chief Priest, carried the calabash from the Palace shrine to the River Osun sacred groove.
The twist has elicited strong reactions from people, particularly cultural enthusiasts, who believe that the new development is a clear departure from the age-old tradition of allowing a young virgin female to perform the sacred duty of carrying the calabash to the River Osun grove to meet the Goddess of Fertility.
WHY?
WITHIN NIGERIA contacted Dr. Oluseyi O.A. Atanda, the President of the Traditional Religious Worshipers Association (TWARSO), to seek his views about the new development.
Atanda, while conversing with WITHIN NIGERIA, disclosed that it is culturally permitted for Mr. Adesina, the Osun Chief Priest, also known as Baba Osun, to help the new Arugba.
He also revealed that other women who have lost their virginity cannot assist the Arugba in carrying or touching the sacred calabash.
Atanda, who doubles as a Babalawo (Ifa Priest), disclosed that the new Arugba is a small girl.
“She is a small girl; that’s how it is done in her early days before she gets accustomed. This is her first spiritual journey to the sacred grove,” the Ifa priest concluded.