Culture

Official schedule unveiled for the coronation of Abimbola Owoade as new Alaafin of Oyo

Published

1 year ago

March 26, 2025

The coronation of Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo will take place over two weeks, with pre-coronation, coronation, and post-coronation events

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) has announced the official schedule for the long-awaited coronation of Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.

The celebrations will span two weeks, beginning on Monday, March 31, and concluding on Saturday, April 12, offering a rich blend of cultural, traditional, and spiritual events.

The festivities will be divided into three main phases: pre-coronation, coronation, and post-coronation. Each phase will showcase Oyo’s vibrant culture and community spirit, allowing both locals and visitors to experience the grandeur of the historic event.

**Pre-Coronation Events: March 31 to April 4**

The pre-coronation phase will begin with a grand cultural carnival parade on March 31 at 7:30 a.m., followed by the official opening ceremony at 10:00 a.m. at the Oba Adeyemi Mini Stadium, Ode Aremo.

The event will be graced by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatunbosun, and LOC Chairman, Kunle Ogunmola.

Throughout the pre-coronation week, there will be several key events, including:

– **Oyo Cultural Heritage Day**
– **A historic tree-planting ceremony**
– **Public lecture and coronation quiz competition**
– **Football match**

This vibrant series of events is designed to bring together the people of Oyo, celebrate their heritage, and prepare for the official coronation of the new monarch.

**The Coronation Ceremony: April 5**

The grand coronation will take place on Saturday, April 5, at Olivet Baptist Heights (OBHSO), with festivities unfolding across various locations in the state.

The OBHSO field will host the Governor and other dignitaries, while VIP guests will be accommodated at Olivet Baptist Academy for parking, and the general public can access Ladigbolu Grammar School.

Additional venues for the ceremony include A.U.D. Primary School (Alagbon/Owode), Methodist Primary School (Apaara), L.A. Town School (Saabo, Oyo), N.A. Town School (Isale Oyo), Oba Adeyemi Mini Stadium (Ode Aremo), Old Oyo National Park, and ADS Primary School.

**Post-Coronation Activities: April 6 to April 12**

Following the coronation, the post-coronation period will include a series of inter-faith prayers, traditional rituals, and community services. Notable events include:

– **Christian Thanksgiving Service** at St Michael’s Anglican Cathedral on Sunday, April 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
– **Free eye tests and distribution of eyeglasses** on Monday, April 7.
– **Isese/Orisa worshippers’ Isure/Idupe ceremony** on Wednesday, April 9, at the Esu Akesan shrine, Akesan, Oyo.
– **Muslim special Jumat prayer** on Friday, April 11, at the Central Mosque, Oja, at 1:30 p.m.
– **Final Thanksgiving service** by the Isese/Orisa worshippers on Saturday, April 12, at Adinua, Ole Compound, Obe Apo, Oyo.

The LOC encourages residents and well-wishers to participate in these historic events, which mark the official installation of Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.

This celebration will not only honour the new monarch but also offer a momentous occasion for all to engage with the rich cultural traditions of Oyo.

Up Next

Cross River State Government to revive Obudu mountain resort for tourism growth

Don't Miss

Nigeria’s national policy on culture nears final review after 37 years

Click to comment

Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”