Ijebu Land

Ojude Oba

The King's Forecourt

Perhaps the most famous and glamorous of the Ijebu festivals, held annually in Ijebu-Ode. The name translates from Yoruba as “The King's Forecourt” or “The King's Front Yard”.

Origins. Deeply rooted in the history of Islam in the region and dating back to the 19th century, it began as a simple gathering of Muslim converts who came to pay homage to the Awujale, thanking him for granting them freedom to practise their new faith. It is celebrated on the third day after Eid al-Kabir — also known as “Ileya”.

Significance. The festival serves as a grand homecoming and a symbol of unity for the Ijebu people, both at home and in the diaspora. Its main purpose is for the people to come together to honour their king, the Awujale, and to reaffirm their loyalty. The event is renowned for its display of elegance, fashion and “steeze”, with participants dressing in their finest traditional attire like Aso Oke, Adire and Agbada.

• The Regberegbe Parade — cultural age-grade groups representing different families compete to showcase culture, style and unity through coordinated outfits and dances as they pay homage to the king.
• Horsemen Display — descendants of legendary Ijebu warriors, the Balogun families, lead a spectacular display of horsemanship.
• Cultural Performances — the festival is packed with rhythmic dancing, musical performances and a vibrant display of Yoruba fashion. The celebration is a major tourist attraction, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Nigeria and the world, and it significantly boosts the local economy.

Agemo

The Festival of the Sixteen Masquerades

The Ijebu are often referred to as Omo Alagemo Merindinlogun — the children of the sixteen Agemo masquerades — a phrase popularised by the musician Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey. The festival honours the spirit deity Agemo, believed to be a protector of children and a guardian of the Ijebu's future.

Date and rituals. Typically held between July and August, coinciding with the maize harvest, and lasting about seven days. The start date is fixed after a consultative meeting between the Awujale and the heads of the recognised Agemo groups, preceded by seven days of chants and drumming from the Oro cult.

A key feature is the annual pilgrimage of the sixteen prominent masquerades from different villages to their shrine at Agbala Imosan, travelling via Ijebu-Ode. The masquerades are adorned with items like feathers and ram's horns. It is considered a strict taboo for women to see the Agemo masquerades during their procession, leading to a period of restricted movement — women are warned to stay indoors, and public announcements are made to enforce this custom.

At Imosan the masquerades spend three days performing traditional rites and receiving gifts from the Awujale. On the final day at the shrine, a ritual dance is performed that can be witnessed by everyone, both men and women. The masquerades then return to Ijebu-Ode for the final rites and public dances before the Awujale, ending the festival.

The sixteen prominent Agemo masquerades:

• Tami (Odogbolu)
• Olumoro (Imoro)
• Serefusi (Igbile)
• Posa (Imosan)
• Moko (Okun)
• Alofe (Ijesa-Ijebu)
• Onugbo (Okenugbo)
• Iju (Imosan)
• Lapen (Oru)
• Magodo (Aiyepe)
• Bajelu (Imuku)
• Lubamisan (Ago-Iwoye)
• Petu (Isiwo)
• Ogegbo (Ibonwon)
• Idobi (Ago-Iwoye)
• Nopa (Imushin)

Agemo priests who do not perform dancing rites: Onijagbori (Imosan), Adie (Ago-Iwoye), Ogi (Idogi, Ijebu-Ode).

Oro

The Festival of Cleansing · June – July

A significant traditional event held annually in Ijebuland, usually in June or July. Its primary purpose is to cleanse the community of bad omens, evil spirits and epidemics. It is believed to prepare the ground for the Agemo festival by ensuring the town is spiritually safe.

Practices and restrictions. The Oro is a male-dominated festival. Women are strictly forbidden from witnessing it, as the Oro masquerade comes out mainly at night. The festival is believed to ensure the community's safety, as stated in the proverb “Eiye a ke bi eiye and Eran a ke bi eran” — “Birds will chirp like birds, and animals will cry like animals” — signifying that all will be well and in its natural order.

Leguru

The Festival of Remembrance · August

Held in August, Leguru is a remembrance festival for the bravery and sacrifice of the Onisemu Leguru, a foremost priest.

According to tradition, Ijebu-Ode was facing the threat of being overtaken by a lagoon. Ifa — the oracle — revealed that Leguru was the one who could save the town by sacrificing himself. Leguru accepted the divination without changing the facts and sacrificed himself to save the town from the lagoon. The sacrifice took place at the point where he was said to have sat on a mat centuries ago and driven the water away from Ijebu-Ode. It is said that to this day, some people claim to hear him performing divination under water at a portion of the lagoon in Epe.

Obinrin Ojowu (Ebi)

The Festival of the Planting Season · February – March

Celebrated by the people of Ijebu-Ode, usually falling between February and March, coinciding with the beginning of the planting season. It is celebrated during the first week of every third month of the year, in compliance with the directive of Ogborogannida — also known as Obanta or Ajagunla.

Rituals and events. The Olowu is the priest of Obinrin Ojowu who directs the rites; before the celebration he must consult with the Awujale and secure his consent on three different occasions. A dog is killed and hung on the Iroko tree at Odo-Esa, a significant location for devotees. The celebration starts on the first day with a nightly walk called irindeoru, where youths carry traditional light and walk around the town, sprinkling ero and making atonement for peace. On the second day comes the “Woro” carnival at Odokala. The grand finale occurs when the Olowa Iberu goes to Isewu to present the Obinrin Ojowu to the representatives of the Awujale.