(PHOTOS) 10-year-old Arugba set for Osun-Osogbo procession
August 7, 2026 11:07 am
10-year-old Arugba of the Osun-Osogbo Festival, Princess Alimot Moredeke Ajoke Osunbunmi prepares for Osun-Osogbo procession…Photo Credit: X/ Waa Sere
The 10-year-old Arugba of the Osun-Osogbo Festival, Princess Alimot Moredeke Ajoke Osunbunmi, has completed the traditional Ifa rites ahead of Friday’s sacred procession at the Osun Sacred Grove.
A cultural content creator, Wàá Ṣeré, disclosed this in a post on X on Thursday, saying the Arugba had undergone the required rites and was ready to perform her role in this year’s festival.
According to the post, Alimot will on Friday carry the sacred calabash of Osun and take it to the sacred grove as part of the annual rituals.
“The Arugba has been fortified! Ìdáfá Arugba is now done and dusted. Arugba takes the required sacrifice to Èṣù on behalf of the whole of the land of Òṣogbo.
“Tomorrow, she carries the sacred calabash of Ọ̀ṣun to the motherly spirit that dwells in fresh waters. Ore Yèyé Ọ̀ṣun o!” the post read.
The development marks a significant moment for Alimot, who became the new Arugba after being selected through traditional Ifa divination.
Alimot’s expected role on Friday will therefore mark a change from last year’s arrangement if she indeed carries the sacred calabash as announced.
Her emergence as Arugba has already attracted attention because of her young age and royal background.
Alimot’s role this year is particularly significant because she did not carry the sacred calabash during the 2025 edition of the festival.
Instead, a male chief priest identified as Baba Osun, Adesina, carried the calabash while Alimot led the procession.
Traditionalists had explained that her young age was a factor in the decision, given the physical demands involved in carrying the sacred object.
She was only nine when she was selected and first took part in the festival as Arugba.
The arrangement allowed her to participate in the procession while the sacred calabash was carried by the priest.
Princess Osunbunmi is from the royal family of the Ataoja of Osogbo.
She was selected in March 2025 through the traditional Ifa divination process to serve as the new Arugba, succeeding Osuntomi Ewatomi, who held the position for about 12 years before getting married.
The Arugba is one of the most important figures in the Osun-Osogbo Festival and plays a central role in the annual procession to the sacred grove.
According to tradition, the position is reserved for a young virgin from the royal lineage, with the selection guided by the Ifa oracle.
The Arugba traditionally carries a sacred calabash containing ritual offerings during the procession from the palace to the Osun Sacred Grove.
The calabash is regarded as an important symbol in the festival and is believed by devotees to be connected to Osun, the Yoruba river goddess.
The Arugba is also regarded by worshippers as a spiritual link between the people and the Osun deity.
Her procession to the grove is therefore one of the major highlights of the festival.
The Arugba is traditionally seen as the bearer of the community’s prayers, sacrifices and hopes during the procession.
Worshippers and traditionalists attach deep spiritual significance to her role, believing that the sacred journey to the Osun River represents the presentation of the people’s offerings and prayers to the deity.
The role is not merely ceremonial, as the Arugba occupies a central position in the spiritual activities surrounding the festival.
The Osun-Osogbo Festival is an annual Yoruba cultural and religious festival held in Osogbo, Osun State.
The festival is centred around the Osun Sacred Grove, which is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The centuries-old festival attracts traditional worshippers, tourists, researchers and cultural enthusiasts from Nigeria and other parts of the world.
The 2026 edition is scheduled to run from August 7 to August 19, with traditional rites, cultural performances, drumming, dancing and other activities forming part of the programme.
The festival traces its roots to the early history of Osogbo, with Yoruba tradition holding that the Osun River goddess established a spiritual relationship with the founders of the community.
Other important activities associated with the festival include the cleansing of the town, the veneration of the Ataoja’s crown, traditional rites and the final Osun Ajigun ceremony.
Samuel Omotere is an experienced journalist covering human interest stories, pop culture, and digital trends. He combines his background as a language graduate with a focus on sustainable digital storytelling.
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