The Ojude Oba Festival (the King’s forecourt) is one of the most colorful and spectacular cultural events in Nigeria. What started as a simple homage paying by the Muslims faithful to the the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona has today evolved into a colourful, grand, multi-faceted celebration combining traditional elements with modern attractions that have also gained international publicity and attention. The 2025 massive attendance and publicity was an offshoot of the 2024 buzz largely created by financial expert Farooq Oreagba, the MD/CEO of NG Clearing Limited. The charismatic cancer survivor trended for days across various social media platforms, more especially on Instagram with his STEEZE!
This year’s festival enjoyed coverage from international mainstream media such as the BBC and CNN.
The festival, which usually takes place on the third day after Eid-el-Kabir, attracts thousands of visitors from within and outside Nigeria, who come to witness the display of glamour, fashion, and glitz by the various age groups, families, and societies in Ijebuland.
The festival always commenced with prayers by the Imam of Ijebuland, then followed by the National Anthem, then the Ogun State Anthem and the Awujale Anthem, and finally the Lineage praise of the Ijebus. After all of these, the parade of different age groups known as Regberegbe with names such as Obafuwaji, Bobagbimo, Bobakeye, Gbobaniyi and Gbobalaye begins, and later the equestrian parade by various royal and warriors families.
How it started
The roots of the Ojude-Oba festival can be traced to the 19th century when Islam was introduced to Ijebuland. This was around 1879, during the reign of Awujale Afidipote. The king allowed the new Muslim converts to practise their faith freely without persecution or interference. In gratitude, Muslims paid homage to the king for the religious freedom they enjoyed.
The Muslims in Ijebu-Ode normally join other Muslims globally to celebrate the Eid’el-Adha festival (Ileya in the Yoruba language). Sacrificial animals are slaughtered on the 10th day of Dul-Hija of the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims rest the next day and then pay homage to the king, the Awujale, the third day after the festival.
This homage became an annual event and, eventually, the current day Ojude-Oba festival.
Brands Sponsorship and Collaborations
The Ojude Oba Festival is now enjoying massive brands sponsorship because it provides an ample platform and opportunities for brands to showcase their products and connect with the consumers. Several brands from the old major sponsors like Globacom, Nigerian Breweries, FCMB, Rite Foods to newcomers like Honeywell, Dangote Salt, Flour Mills, Orijin, Seaman Schnapps, Sifax Group, Adron Homes and many more were all out to outshine one another through their various activities on and off the festival ground. Some of the brands connect with consumers by staging various musical concerts while others do so through products sampling and giveaway.
Many Ijebu Ode celebrities were also engaged by some of the brands for promotions, influencing and visibilities. Adron Homes tapped Lateef Adedimeji and Femi Branch to promote their brand, Orijin hooked beautiful Princess Adesile and Duke of Ijebuland (Prince Adeboye Kasali) and Goldberg leveraged on King Belaire’s (Balogun Alatishe) popularity and swag.
Economic Benefits of Ojude Oba
The Ojude Oba Festival has significantly boosted business activities across Ijebuland over the years.
The festival showed how cultural traditions can drive economic growth by empowering local businesses, service providers, artists, and artisans from Ogun, Lagos and practically all the other states in South West Nigeria.
During this period, hotels in Ijebu-Ode and surrounding towns experience full occupancy, and relaxation centres also see increased activity. Artisans, traders, and vendors of various items, including festival paraphernalia, food, drinks, and transportation services, enjoy brisk business and substantial income. If we aggregate all these, the festival generates billions in revenue, benefiting not only Ijebu-Ode and Ogun State but also Nigeria. According to a CNN report, this year’s festival generated around $10 million in revenue.
Fashion, Style and Beauty
With average of 35 members representing each Regberegbe (Age-groups) that will be wearing uniformed costumes for their parade, imagine the cost for their clothes like Aso-oke, Lace, Damask and other fabrics. The suppliers, fashion designers, tailors and accessories makers of this clothes plus the Caps for Men and Gele (head tie) for women will surely be smiling to the bank. Accessories makes such as shoes, beads, slippers, etc will also be making cool money from their crafts. Beauticians, hair stylists and Make Up Artistes are not left out of these largesse.
Catering
With thousands of people attending the festival. Restaurants, fast food joints, bukas, lounges, pubs usually recorded high patronages.
Hospitality
A month to the Ojude Oba festival, it will be difficult for guests to get rooms at many of the hotels in Ijebu Ode and adjoining cities as they would have been booked months before the festival. Hotels and Apartments makes lots of money at this period.
Entertainment
Local bands, DJ, popular artistes, emcees and hype men also partake in the goodies of Ojude Oba as various groups booked them to entertain their guests. Many local pubs and restaurants also witness a huge surge and patronages at this period.
Video/Photography
Many photographers, videographers and content creators also get booked by various Regberegbe and individuals to document and capture the event for them.
Transportation
Transporters are not left out, as they move people and goods during this period. They assist with the logistics and movement of the people. From cabs, keke to okada everyone makes cool money during Ojude Oba.
Photographers/Content Creators
The Ojude Oba Festival without professional coverages can’t be duly documented or gained massive exposure it has been enjoying. The 2024 and 2025 festivals got massive publicity and trended on social media platforms for days, thanks to the lenses of many young creative minds who did justice to the festival’s razzmatazz. Spotlighting and capturing every memorable moment in frames. Showcasing the fashion, style, beauty, elegance, vibrant and beautiful colours by the various age groups, families, and societies in Ijebuland. And of course the STEEZE!
BIG SHOUT-OUT TO: Niyi Fagbemi, Folastag, Fotonugget, Hafeez Akanni, Dewunmi Lagos, Arowolo Fatai, Abayomi Adebayo, Pooja Media, Taiwo Arifayan, Holarmilekan Shotz, Ovie Soft, Empire Photography, DAX Visuals, Zebra Photography and many other young photographers and content creators who made the festival to gain global audiences.
PICTURES FROM THE 2025 FESTIVAL
