Colours of Osun-Osogbo Festival via OYASAF’s lens

 From the 2011 Osun Osogbo Festival, OYASAF’s team of photographers and writers document the yearly event in colours.

Arugba (middle), carrying the Osun-Osogbo Calabash covered. PHOTO: OYASAF

 The Osun-Osogbo festival is held in Osogbo, Osun State, in the southwest part of Nigeria. It is held to celebrate a river goddess, Osun. In writing any narrative on the Osun-Osogbo festival, three important personalities make the festival sacred: Ataoja, Yeye-Osun and the Arugba.

1, Ataoja.

 Ataoja is the Oba (King) of Osogbo. The importance of the King to the festival is historical. According to legend, Oba Larooye Gbadewolu Olatimehin of Iponle-Omu, led his people in search of water when there was a draught. During the search, they found river Osun, which served the people, hence their migration towards the source of the river.

  As time went on, the activities of people at the riverside began to affect the serenity of the river, and the goddess felt disturbed. She responded by making sounds whenever people come to the river. Oba Larooye then named the unseen goddess 'Osho-Igbo,' meaning the keeper of the forest. From the name Osho-Igbo, the name of the town-Osogbo was coined. 

Osun Osogbo worshipers performing one of the rituals of the festival, during the 2011 edition. PHOTO: OYASAF 

 2. Yeye Osun

  Yeye Osun is the custodian of the goddess, Osun. She conducts the rituals of the festival. 

 3. Arugba

The Osun Osogbo Festival runs for two weeks. On the last day of the festival, the nubile votary carries the calabash full of food such as moin-moin (baked bean), eko (baked millet and oil to the river, while the people of the town follow her and pray for their wishes for the year.

 Believers in the Osun – Osogbo deity hold on to the conviction that since they have been using the river Osun water, their women have been more fertile and that they get healed by the Osun – Osogbo goddess. They thus worship the goddess of the river Osun.

Osun-Osogbo purification ritual being performed at the Osun river during the 2011 edition. PHOTO: OYASAF

 The Arugba has to be a nubile votary. She volunteers to carry the calabash, and keeps her purity. The river goddess in turn grants her wisdom and power. The Arugba commands the respect for that role of the entire community. A family that produces the Arugba is well respected and seen as a favored family in Osogbo.