By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi / Posted July 28, 2025
Ota, Ogun State, the historic cultural heartbeat of the Awori Yoruba people, is brimming with anticipation as it prepares for the commencement activities of Odun Egungun Festival 2025, with effect from 18 October.
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The sacred celebration, renowned as the longest cultural programme of Yoruba spirituality and the pinnacle of the Aworis’ heritage. The months-long event honours ancestral spirits through captivating Egungun masquerade performances, vibrant display of rare native ensemble of artifacts rooted in heritage, faith and unity of the Aworiland.
Rooted in centuries-old traditions tracing back to Ile-Ife, the Odun Egungun reflects Ota’s status as an Awori cultural hub. The festival not only honors past heroes but also preserves Awori heritage against modern influences, fostering unity and boosting tourism.
Under the revered traditional leadership of the Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi AbdulKabir Obalanlege, the event is expected to be a rich medley of culture at its best, attracting several visitors, tourists, writers, cultural enthusiasts and Awori descendants from all over the world.
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The Odun Egungun holds profound significance for the Awori people, serving as a spiritual bridge to their ancestors. Ota, often hailed as the “mecca of Egungun deity and festival in Yoruba land,” transforms into a stage where the Egungun sacred masquerades embodying departed spirits perform intricate dances and deliver blessings. Clad in elaborate costumes of aso-oke, silk, velvet, and damask, adorned with cowries, beads, and animal skins, these masquerades, performed by initiated men of the Oje (Egungun society), symbolize ancestral prestige and spiritual power.
The performances are accompanied by traditional drumming and chanting, prayers for prosperity, peace, and communal harmony, reinforcing Awori values of respect, morality, and unity. Of keen interest is that, this festival is quite distinct from Ota’s Iganmode Cultural Festival which usually holds in December, because it focuses solely on ancestral veneration, making it a deeply spiritual cornerstone of Awori identity.
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As the D-day of October 18 draws near, necessary preparations are on. For instance, the Alaagba (chief priest) and Oje custodians of the deities are already conducting sacred rituals at the Igbale (sacred grove), offering kolanuts, palm oil, and animals to invoke ancestral blessings, ensuring the festival’s spiritual content is achieved to full potential.
Furthermore, the entire community is being mobilized, with the youths cleaning public spaces, the artisans meticulously crafting and repairing vibrant Egungun costumes while the elders are sharing folklore stories to inspire the younger generation. The drummers and singers are rehearsing traditional rhythms, perfecting their acts, to ensure a scintillating performance that will captivate expected spectators and attendees.
Ogun State Government, as part of its efforts to boost tourism, is supporting the event in specific areas. The local markets in Sango-Ota area are stocking goods and designating hospitality venues preparing for an influx of visitors.
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The festival will begin with rituals at the Igbale, followed by a grand parade to the Olota’s palace, marking the official start. Egungun masquerades, each representing ancestral lineages, will parade through Ota’s streets, their dances and whip-wielding performances blessing homes and onlookers. The day will culminate in a communal carnival at the Olota’s palace or central square, where all Egungun will gather for a dazzling display of music, dance, and pageantry and also, feasting to showcase various aspects of Aworis’ robust culture.