The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, on Friday evening performed sacred ancestral rites during the Oshoosi Day observances of the ongoing 2026 World Obatala Festival in Ile-Ife, invoking divine and ancestral blessings for peace, moral rebirth and national renewal in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooniās Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the Ooni who is also the Permanent Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) led high-level spiritual rites at the Obatala Holy Temple, where prayers, libations and invocations were offered in accordance with age-long Yoruba tradition.
The Ooni, clad in sacred white regalia symbolic of purity and spiritual authority, offered prayers to Olodumare, the Supreme Being, and to revered Yoruba ancestors, seeking divine alignment, protection and guidance for Nigeria and its people.
The Ooni invoked the spirits of the forebears to cleanse the land of negative energies, conflict and moral decay, calling for renewed harmony among communities, righteous leadership and collective prosperity.
āOshoosi represents precision, direction and victory in righteous pursuits. In invoking Oshoosi today, we are calling for clarity of purpose for Nigeria, successful pursuit of justice, and triumph over forces that threaten peace and unity,ā the Ooni was quoted as saying.
Ooni explained that during the rites, symbolic items associated with Oshoosi representing focus, discipline and provision were presented at the altar, while traditional chants and sacred incantations were rendered by chief priests to invoke ancestral presence and spiritual intervention.
The Ooni further prayed that the ancestral spirit of Oshoosi would guide Nigerians towards productive paths, protect hunters, farmers, artisans and all those whose livelihoods depend on the land, and grant the nation abundance, security and stability.
Emphasising cultural continuity, the Ooni stressed that such sacred observances are not mere ceremonies but spiritual channels through which societal balance is restored.
āOur ancestors left us values of justice, truth, hard work and communal living. When we reconnect with them spiritually, we realign ourselves with these virtues and secure a better future for coming generations,ā the Ooni stated.
Through Otunba Olafare, the Ooni also called on Nigerians, irrespective of religion or ethnicity, to embrace the moral lessons embedded in Yoruba spirituality, noting that Obatala represents purity, fairness and uprightness values urgently needed in national life.
He further urged leaders at all levels to draw inspiration from Obatalaās attributes of justice and wisdom, adding that no society can thrive without moral clarity and respect for human dignity.
The statement noted that the Ooni used the Oshoosi Day rites to pray specifically for Nigeriaās leadership, security architecture and youth population, asking that ancestral wisdom guide decision-makers, strengthen institutions and inspire young people toward innovation, discipline and service.
āOshoosi never misses the right path. May Nigeria find the right path again. May our leaders lead with conscience, and may our youths channel their energy toward building, not destroying,ā the Ooni was quoted as praying.
The Oshoosi Day rites form part of the 2026 World Obatala Festival, one of the most profound cultural and spiritual gatherings on the Yoruba festival calendar, currently holding in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, regarded as the cradle of Yoruba civilisation.
The festival, which began on Wednesday, January 14, and will conclude on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, is taking place at the Obatala Temple in Ile-Ife and has drawn devotees, traditional custodians, scholars and cultural enthusiasts from across Nigeria and the global Yoruba diaspora.
Obatala, also known as Orisanla, occupies a central position in Yoruba cosmology as the Orisha of creation, purity, wisdom, justice and moral uprightness. He is traditionally believed to be the divine artisan entrusted by Olodumare, the Supreme Being, with the moulding of human life.
In line with long-standing tradition, devotees are identified by their white garments, symbolising purity of thought, moral clarity and spiritual cleanliness. Rituals performed throughout the festival reflect these core virtues and reinforce ethical values within the society.
Over the years, the World Obatala Festival has evolved from a sacred local observance into a globally recognised cultural and spiritual event. It now serves as a major platform for preserving Yoruba spiritual heritage while fostering dialogue on ethics, moral leadership and cultural identity in a modern, globalised world.
Activities for the 2026 festival commenced with Osan, the initiation day, followed by an International Colloquium and Itaala Orisa Night. Other highlights include exhibition displays, processions, devotional rites, scholarly engagements and communal worship sessions.
The festival also features prayers for moral governance, social harmony and spiritual balance, alongside teachings, ritual instructions and testimonies for both long-standing adherents and new participants.
Beyond its religious significance, the World Obatala Festival has become a symbol of cultural diplomacy and identity reconnection, positioning Ile-Ife as a living centre of tradition, scholarship and spiritual reflection.
Throughout the celebration, the city of Ile-Ife is marked by daily worship, traditional drumming, chants, colourful street processions and the widespread wearing of white garments, known as efun, which remains a defining visual and spiritual feature of the festival.
For Ile-Ife and the Yoruba people worldwide, the Obatala Festival stands as more than an annual event. It is a reaffirmation of identity, continuity and moral consciousness, a reminder of enduring Yoruba values such as humility, justice, wisdom and peace
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