Culture

Olojo Festival 2025 Begins with Powerful Celebration

Published

12 months ago

September 27, 2025

Olojo Festival 2025 begins in Ile Ife as the Ooni leads sacred rites, blending Yoruba heritage with digital storytelling and global participation

The festival, one of the most significant gatherings of the Yoruba people, is a unifying event that draws global attention while connecting generations through shared heritage.

Also read: Chief Imam of Ifeland Calls for Peace at Olojo Fest

At the heart of the celebrations stands His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, who leads sacred rituals, prayers, and processions.

A defining highlight of the festival is the symbolic wearing of the Aare Crown, a deeply spiritual moment that reflects leadership, unity, and ancestral connection.

This year’s edition has been marked by a bold embrace of digital storytelling.

Daily highlights, cultural narratives, and live coverage are being shared on the official Instagram page @olojofest, offering Yoruba descendants and culture enthusiasts worldwide the chance to experience the energy of Ile Ife in real time.

Adding a fresh layer of engagement, organisers have introduced the Olojo Trivia Giveaway. Followers of @olojofest are invited to participate in weekly trivia challenges for a chance to win cash prizes.

By answering questions, tagging friends, and staying active online, participants can immerse themselves in Yoruba culture even from afar.

For those present in Ile Ife, the experience remains unmatched. From energetic drumming and colourful processions to traditional dances and sacred blessings, every corner of the city vibrates with cultural pride.

The Ooni’s leadership in symbolic rituals reinforces the spiritual essence of the festival, making it both a community celebration and a cultural pilgrimage.

Ayomide Adetola, who leads the festival’s digital strategy, explained the vision: “We are excited to share Olojo Festival 2025 with the world in a way that truly reflects its importance.

Our goal is to honour sacred traditions while also engaging the younger generation and the global Yoruba community.”

By blending heritage with innovation, Olojo Festival 2025 underscores culture’s enduring power to connect the past with the present.

It remains a living tradition — one that celebrates Yoruba resilience, identity, and unity while opening its doors to a global audience.

Also read: Olojo Festival 5km Road Race Launches with Top Nigerian Runners

Participants are encouraged to follow @olojofest for exclusive updates, live videos, and schedules, ensuring that whether in Ile Ife or abroad, everyone can be part of this historic celebration.

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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.”