The Odun Omo Olowu festival is a vibrant annual celebration that has become an integral part of the identity of Owu, a city in south-west Nigeria. The 27th edition was not an exception. This colourful event is famous for its cultural displays, public parades and beehive of colourful activities, ALAO ABIODUN was there.
The atmosphere at the African Church Central Primary School, Ita-Iyalode, Abeokuta was electric. Vibrant colours filled the air, rhythmic drumming reverberated through the town, horses paraded proudly before cheering crowds, and generations of Owu sons and daughters reunited in a celebration of heritage, identity and communal pride.
Arrays of beautifully adorned men, women, youths, and cultural enthusiasts from all walks of life on Saturday, October 31 thronged the ancient town of Owu for the 2026 Odun Omo Olowu, transforming the city into a vibrant panorama of colour, glamour, heritage, and tradition.
Odun Omo Olowu, held annually, is a celebration of culture. However, in 2026, something more happened. Culture didn’t just show up; it was expressed boldly, creatively, and in real time. The Odun Omo Olowu which originates from the new yam festival has been encoded into a different brand.
It wasn’t just a place to gather; it was where people showed up as themselves. Style became identity, energy became connection, and presence became performance. At its core, the Odun Omo Olowu festival is a grand homage-paying ceremony to the Olowu, the king of the Owu people.
Various displays and activities showcased Owu culture. Riders demonstrated their prowess on horseback, and the various families paraded in their distinct cultural attire, while the king prayed for them.
For Olowu of Owu Kingdom, HRM Oba (Prof) Saka Adedola Matemilola, the annual Odun Omo Olowu festival strengthens relationships between Owu communities, neighbors and promote communal living.
With the theme Awakening to Action: Strengthening The Owu Legacy, this year’s celebration reflected the commitment the Olowu of Owu, to ensuring that cultural heritage serves as a foundation for community progress, youth development and improved well-being.
He affirmed that the festival had continued to showcase the rich and proud culture of the Owus, and that the festival is the kingdom’s flagship aimed to foster spirit of unity among the Owu people, both home and abroad.
In a notable achievement preceding the festival, Kabiyesi was conferred with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Public Administration by Crescent University, Abeokuta, during its 18th Convocation Ceremony on Saturday, 17 October 2026.
The honour was in recognition of his contributions to community development, visionary initiatives, public service and traditional governance. The ceremony, held at the Bola Ajibola Auditorium, Crescent University, was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, and attended by distinguished personalities from academia, industry and traditional institutions.
This year’s Festival, which celebrated the cultural heritage and unity of the Owu people, featured several activities, including interfaith prayers, youth sporting events and a symposium.
Other programmes held during the week-long festival include the groundbreaking ceremony for the Owu Muslim Hospital, visits to Apomu, Erunmu, Orile Ifo and Abule Owu, the Ogbe Festival, project commissioning, chieftaincy installations and the Ajibosin colloquium, among others.
It was a star-studded gathering with prominent personalities in attendance including former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, who also doubles as the Balogun and Prime Minister of Owu Kingdom, and his beloved wife, Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Bola Obasanjo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abimbola Owoade, the Alaafin of Oyo, representation of His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, CFR, the Ooni of Ife and Arole Oduduwa, by his beloved queen, Her Majesty, Olori Ashley Afolasade Ogunwusi; Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (YAYI), APC Ogun Governorship candidate.
Others wee Senators Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, both former governors of Ogun State, Alhaja Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun, APC Deputy Governorship candidate, Chief (Mrs.) Olufunso Amosun, former First Lady of Ogun State, Senator Afolabi Salisu (APC, Ogun Central), Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, Hon. Olumide Osoba (APC, Abeokuta North/Obafemi Owode/Odeda Federal Constituency), Hon Oladipupo Adebutu (Lado), Rt. Hon Tunji Egbetokun and many top government officials.
Traditionally, over the centuries, it is the custom in Owu kingdom for Olowu of Owu to be the paramount ruler and head of the kingdom; this has been the tradition since Inception. However, the lineages of the kingship can be traced back to the first Olowu of Owu, son of Oduduwa’s daughter. Every Olowu that ruled the Owu Kingdom were princes selected from six ruling houses namely Amororo, Otileta, Ayoloye, Akinjobi, Akinoso and Lagbedu. The Oba will be assisted by his appointed chiefs known as “Ogbonis and Ologuns.
The annual Owu Day festival tradition started in 1999 and has attracted participation by several Owu indigenes and people from all over the world.
On October 9, 2010, the Olowu of Owu Oba Dosunmu publicly declared the first weekend of the month of October as Owu Day for public celebration of the goodness of the Almighty God. This declaration was made to usher in the new Odun Omo Olowu which is to henceforth replace the previous Owu Day Festival which incidentally had its 10th and final outing last year on the 10th day of the 10th month.
The debuting Odun Omo Olowu also incorporated the ancient traditional New Yam Festival which was dramatically staged by the Olowu himself, much to the delight, admiration and applause of the attendant crowd and dignitaries.
The Owu Annual Festival begins with a consultation with the Olowu for a suitable date for the commencement of the year’s celebration. This is called ‘Igbojo” i.e. the fixing of the date to flag off the commencement. Once the date is fixed the ‘Obamogbo’ and Alojee’ traditionalists take over preparation for the festival. The Olowu being the chief celebrant is responsible for providing the materials for the rituals. The monarch must provide a compliment of gifts comprising a load of yams, a hind leg of an ‘agborin’ (an antelope), etc.
The Obamogbo receives these items. By contrast the Alojee receives one bottle of palm-oil. The festival itself kick-starts with an eve of the festival celebration called ‘Ojo Ale Odun’ or ‘Odun-ku-ola’. To begin with, the main events of the festival span 3 days – the eve night, plus the next 2days.
The Obamogbo haven received the traditional gifts, proceeds to perform the ceremony of appeasing ‘Obalufon’ (an ancestral representation) over the night, culminating in all the ‘Imogbos’ and people coming to the palace gleefully to dance in the presence of the Olowu and its regarded as the main day when the Olowu flagged off the celebration.
The next day is ‘Ojo Aiirin’ otherwise known as ‘Eburedun Day’, which is a curfew day on which all sons and daughters of Owu are required to observe a holiday when they should neither go to the farm to work nor go to the river to draw water. It is observed in honour of all those Owu citizens who had died during the past one year. This day is also called ‘Ojo Aweje Awemu’, i.e. a feasting day. It is in essence a Memorial Day. These complete the major events for the ordinary citizenry which as we have observed last 3 days. After these, people are free to return to the pursuit of their daily bread.
But the festival continues for the chief celebrant. For the Olowu, the next is ‘Ojo Igbasan’ (a day to receive the presentation of a new whip). The Oba is presented with an additional ceremonial whip which he places alongside the existing batch which serves for counting the number of years he has ascended to the throne. It is the total batch so kept that is counted at the end of this reign to let the people know for how many years he has reigned. This traditional system was designed of old as a fool-proof calendar to forestall falsifying the number of years a monarch has reigned over the great Owu people.
The final day is called ‘Ojo Igunwa’ (Royalty Day). This is the day on which the Olowu sits in royal splendor on his throne and receives the homage of the Owu chiefs and people. This grand finale is rounded up with the beating of ‘Gbedu’ drums (state drum set) to which the Olowu dances to the admiration of Owu people and to signal that the year’s Odun Omo Olowu has come to an end.
The Chairman, Odun Omo Olowu 2026 planning committee, who also doubles as the Akingbogun Of Owu Kingdom, Chief (Prof.) Moruf Lanrewaju Adelekan described the reign of the current monarch as impactful and filled so much unforgettable legacies.
He said: “Unlike in previous years, this year’s festival has spanned 13 days which commenced on the 19th October, 2026 and has featured a series of socio-cultural activities, such as visits to ongoing projects, royal visits to Owu townships in and outside Abeokuta, culminating in the grand finale.
“The theme for this year’s festival is “Awakening to Action: Strengthening the Owu Legacy” can be summed up in three words: Action, Legacy, and Home.
“The above words perfectly reflect the vision and action points of our Kabiyes, Alaiyeluwa, Oba Professor Saka Adelola Matemilola, Oluyalo Otileta VIl. Since he ascended the throne of his forefathers in 2022, he has truly awakened the Owu spirit.
“He has unified the thirty-nine Owu communities across five states in Nigeria and the Benin Republic, inspiring many to return and invest in Owu’s collective development.
“Also, Owu diasporans across the globe have become quite active, coming home to take up Chieftaincy titles, contributing to developmental projects at home and having global meetings biennially. The action is also felt very strongly at the local level. Through its four pillars of Health, Education, Economic Empowerment and Skills Acquisition, the Olowu Hope Initiative (OHI) has implemented and continues to implement several projects that impact positively on communities within and outside Owu Kingdom.”
Oba Matemilola, in address said: “Dear sons and daughters of Owu, at home and in the diaspora, custodians of a proud and ancient heritage, Welcome to Odun Omo Olowu 2026, our flagship festival and the season when the heart of Owu beats as one.
“Three years ago, we proclaimed A New Dawn over our kingdom. Dawn is a promise, but it is not the day itself. The sun does not rise for us to keep sleeping. This year our theme answers that call: Awakening to Action: Strengthening the Owu Legacy.
“Our forefathers did not leave us a legacy to admire from a distance. They left us a foundation to build upon. Every wall of Owu that stands today was raised by hands that chose to act. The question before our generation is simple: what will we raise?
“We have seen a renewed spirit among our people and growing commitment to our common progress. Now we must turn that spirit into structures, ideas into enterprises, and goodwill into lasting impact.
“Let our farmers innovate, our youth create, our professionals mentor, and our sons and daughters abroad return with their knowledge, their investment, and their vision.
“Home is where we build the future. Wherever life has taken you, Owu remains your foundation. Bring your gifts home. Plant them in the soil that first nurtured you, and let them grow into a shelter for generations yet unborn.
“Over these days of celebration, from the 18th to the 31st of October, let us honour our ancestors through more than ceremony. Let us honour them by committing to work that will outlive us.
“The time for waiting has passed. The time for doing is now. Together, let us strengthen the Owu legacy and show the world a kingdom that is awake, united, and moving forward.”
For the Ogun State government under the leadership of Dapo Abiodun, it believes that festivals like Odun Omo Olowu 2026 is a valuable platform for showcasing cultural assets, attracting visitors, strengthening local enterprise, and inspiring renewed interest in the Owu history among younger generations.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Oluwasesan Fagbayi, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said: “This year’s theme, “Awakening to Action: Strengthening the Owu Legacy” presents a compeling call to collective responsibility, purposeful leadership and renewed commitment to preserving the values that define the kingdom.
“It underscores the need to translate our shared history and cultural pride into meaningful actions that promote unity, economic advancement, youth empowerment and sustainable community development.
“No doubt, Kabiyesi’s reign continues to provide an important platform for promoting peace, strengthening traditional institutions and fostering a shared vision for the future of Owu Kingdom.
“Your dedication to upholding the dignity of the throne and preserving the kingdom’s cherished customs deserves commendation.
“As a government, we believe that festivals such as Odun Omo Olowu provide valuable platforms for showcasing our cultural assets, attracting visitors, strengthening local enterprise, and inspiring renewed interest in our history among younger generations.
“This administration therefore remains committed to promoting cultural tourism, supporting initiatives that preserve our historical heritage, and creating opportunities through which our rich traditions can contribute meaningfully to economic growth, employment generation, and the overall development of our dear State.
“I commend Your Royal Highness, the Council of Chiefs, the festival organisers, and all stakeholders for sustaining this important cultural celebration. I urge all sons and daughters of Owu Kingdom to embrace the spirit of the occasion by promoting unity, peace, mutual understanding, and collective action towards strengthening the Owu legacy for the benefit of present and future generations.”
Executive Chairman of Abeokuta North Local Government, Dr. Lanre Oyegbola-Sodipo, described Odun Omo Olowu as more than an annual cultural festival, saying it represents a profound celebration of identity, unity, valour and the rich cultural heritage of the Owu people.
He explained that the festival serves as a significant platform for homecoming, reconciliation and intergenerational bonding, reminding the people of their historical roots and the enduring values of courage, honour, hard work and communal love.
Dr. Oyegbola-Sodipo expressed the local government’s pride in hosting several Owu communities, including Oke-Ago Owu, Owu Ikija, Totoro, Elega and Ita-Oshin.
The festival reached a fever pitch of excitement with the arrival of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olayinka Egbeyemi and his large entourage. Riding into the arena with his characteristic poise, Egbeyemi did not disappoint. Dressed in a crisp, regal embroidered purple agbada paired with a striking purple cap and his trademark dark shades, he commanded the attention of the thousands gathered. His composure, despite the deafening cheers of the crowd, solidified his status and also drew attention to his entourage looking radiant in their various purple attires.
Another major highlight of the celebration was the procession of all the Baloguns on beautifully decorated horses, while cultural troupes thrilled guests and spectators with traditional performances that showcased the rich and vibrant heritage of the Owu people.
The colourful displays, traditional homage and enthusiastic participation of sons and daughters of the kingdom further underscored the enduring relevance of the festival as a vehicle for cultural preservation, unity and communal development.
The Odun Omo Olowu 2026 festival may have come and gone, but the festival provides a rare and profound glimpse into Owu heritage. This year’s festival has shown that it is more than a day of festivities. Rather, it has come to be a living archive of Yoruba history, a potent force for economic stimulation, and a world-class cultural event.
