The 10-year-old Arugba of the 2026 Osun-Osogbo Festival, Princess Alimot Moredeke Ajoke Osunbunmi, is set to lead the sacred procession as the annual cultural and spiritual festival reaches its climax in Osogbo.
Princess Alimot, who occupies the highly revered position of Arugba, has reportedly completed the traditional Ifa rites ahead of the grand procession.
The Arugba plays a central role in the Osun-Osogbo Festival and is traditionally responsible for carrying the sacred calabash containing ritual offerings during the procession from the Ataoja’s Palace to the Osun Sacred Grove.
The procession is one of the most significant aspects of the annual festival and is watched by thousands of worshippers, traditionalists, tourists, cultural enthusiasts and residents.
The Osun-Osogbo Festival is an annual celebration that honours Osun, the Yoruba river deity, while also preserving the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Osogbo people.
The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, which serves as the major venue for the concluding rituals, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 in recognition of its cultural and spiritual significance.
The festival has over the years attracted visitors from different parts of Nigeria and other countries, making it one of the most prominent traditional festivals in the country.
With the completion of the necessary traditional rites, all eyes are now on Princess Alimot as she prepares to fulfil her role in this year’s sacred procession.
The 2026 celebration is expected to draw a large crowd to Osogbo as worshippers and visitors gather to witness the historic cultural ceremony.
