Festivals

Oluyole Festival will showcase Ibadan’s cultural resilience, heritage —Folarin Lawson

Published

3 years ago

November 20, 2023

Popular filmmaker and entrepreneur, Folarin Lawson, who is the driving force behind the Oluyole Festival, has said he is on a mission to revive and celebrate the rich culture and heritage of Ibadan.

In a recent interview with R, Lawson whose movie, Nimbe is ranked one of the most watched on Netflix shared the inspiration behind the festival, shedding light on its objectives and the challenges encountered.

Determined to project the city onto the cultural stage, he embarked on a journey that led to the inception of the Oluyole Festival.

With the second edition set to hold between November 29 and December 3, this edition, according to him, promises a five-day extravaganza, featuring diverse events to engage the community and celebrate Ibadan’s cultural essence.

“The festival kicks off with a visit to the palace of Olubadan, followed by an art exhibition showcasing a mini-documentary on Ibadan’s history. The subsequent days feature a seminar on the significance of Ibadan, film screenings, a 48-hour film challenge, football, and golf tournaments. The grand finale boasts a carnival procession and a special performance by a renowned local artist.”

He urged the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde to allocate more funds to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, stressing the potential economic gains for the state.

Up Next

SSP, Reminisce set for Ofada Rice Day Festival

Don't Miss

BAP’s Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti wins big at AFRIFF

Click to comment

Culture

OLOJO….Ile Ife’s September Gift To Culture

Published

1 hour ago

October 5, 2026

Mariam Balogun

By Halima Adaba,

It was a featubal if the people. It was for the anciebt town of Ile Ife, which the Yoruba race refards as the Source.

Also read: Olojo Festival 2026: Ooni Urges Leaders to Prioritise Citizens

And ut was a festivsl for the King, Arole Oduduwa, Oonirisa, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

And so between September 24 and 28th 2026, the annual featuval dazzjed in all its white glory.

Tge Monarch paid the traditional ancestral homage and offered propitiation as part of the sacred rites of the Olojo Festival.
It was a powerful expression of Yoruba heritage, spirituality, and enduring tradition.

Call it a collection of beautiful moments, faces, colours and cultural expressions.

Every frame tells a story.

Every face carries the energy.

Every moment keeps the heritage alive.

Undoubtedly one of the most sacred cultural celebrations in Ilé-Ifẹ̀. It marked a day associated with creation, thanksgiving, ancestral heritage, and the sacred appearance of the Ooni of Ife wearing the revered Aàrẹ crown.

There were also the devotees of the famed god of thunder – Sàngó who were hardly conspicuous at the festival.

Many other traditional groups came out with candor, showing a powerful expression of Yoruba cultural identity, spiritual devotion, and respect for the ancient traditions of Ilé-Ifẹ̀.

Devotees of Sàngó bekieved the ‘appearance’ of the god of thunder on Seotember 26th could be understood as a symbolic meeting of ancestral heritage, spiritual devotion, and the celebration of creation.

It was a moment when the sounds of drums, chants, and traditional praise poetry brought the history of the Yoruba people to life.

Although Olojo is closely associated with Ogun, the god of iron, and the sacred traditions of Ile-Ife, the presence of Sàngó devotees reflected the rich diversity of Yoruba spiritual heritage.

Also read: Olojo Festival 2026: Ooni Urges Leaders to Prioritise Citizens

As a participant enthused at the festival, “To witness Sàngó Olúkòso emerge on Olojo Festival day is to witness a living expression of history, identity, and ancestral pride.”