As preparations gather momentum for the 2026 Osun-Osogbo Festival, traditional rites officially commenced on Thursday with special Ifa prayers held at the palace of the Ataoja of Osogboland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun Larooye II.
The spiritual gathering, regarded as one of the significant pre-festival activities, brought together prominent Ifa priests, palace chiefs, traditional title holders, and the monarch's queens, all united in seeking divine blessings for a successful celebration and continued peace across Osogbo and Osun State.
The prayers were led by the Araba of Osogboland, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, who invoked the blessings of the ancestors and the deities while offering fervent supplications for lasting peace, unity, prosperity, and protection for the Ataoja, the people of Osogbo, and the entire state. He also prayed for a hitch-free and successful Osun-Osogbo Festival in 2026, emphasizing the importance of harmony and spiritual guidance in preserving the cultural heritage of the ancient town.
Speaking after the prayer session, the Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun Larooye II, expressed appreciation to the Ifa priests for their unwavering commitment to praying for the kingdom and its people. The monarch commended their consistency in upholding traditional values through spiritual intercession and urged them not to relent in their efforts.
According to the royal father, the prevailing peace and stability being enjoyed in Osogbo and Osun State remain invaluable, stressing that continuous prayers and unity among the people are essential to sustaining the progress recorded over the years.
Also speaking, Alhaji Chief Kamarudeen Yusuf Efe, the Otun Babaloja of Sasa Market, Osogbo, and the Ataoja's representative in the market, congratulated the monarch, traditional institution, and the people of Osogbo on the successful commencement of the annual Ifa prayer.
He described the gathering of Ifa priests at the palace as a unique spiritual tradition that reinforces the cultural identity of Osogbo and strengthens communal harmony. He noted that the annual prayer session provides an opportunity for traditional custodians to seek divine intervention for the well-being of the monarch, residents of Osogbo, and the entire Osun State.
The Ifa prayer marks one of the earliest traditional activities leading to the globally celebrated Osun-Osogbo Festival, a UNESCO-recognized cultural event that attracts thousands of devotees, tourists, and cultural enthusiasts from Nigeria and across the world each year.
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