Manny Ita
The ancient city of Ile-Ife reached a spiritual crescendo on Monday, January 26, 2026, as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, led the final major observances of the 2026 World Obatala Festival. The week-long celebration, which drew thousands of devotees and cultural tourists from across the global Yoruba diaspora, culminated in a series of sacred rites at the Obatala Temple aimed at fostering “national renewal and moral rebirth.”
Central to the closing ceremonies was the observation of “Oshoosi Day,” where the monarch, clad in traditional white regalia signifying purity and spiritual authority, performed ancestral invocations. Describing Oshoosi as the deity of “precision, direction, and victory in righteous pursuits,” the Ooni utilized the platform to address the current socio-political climate in Nigeria. In a statement issued by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, the monarch was quoted as praying specifically for the nation’s leadership and youth: “I call upon the ancestral spirits to cleanse our land of negative energies and moral decay. May our leaders be granted the wisdom to guide the people with justice, and may our youth be inspired toward innovation, discipline, and service to their fatherland.”
The 2026 edition of the festival, which officially began on January 14, served as a “spiritual channel for restoring societal balance,” according to palace officials. Beyond the religious significance, the Ooni emphasized that the virtues represented by Obatala—fairness, patience, and uprightness—are “urgently needed in national life” to overcome the forces threatening peace and unity. The rites also included prayers for the protection of those whose livelihoods depend on the land, particularly farmers and artisans, as the monarch sought divine intervention for national abundance and security.
As the festival winds down, the Ooni has called on Nigerians of all faiths to embrace the moral lessons of Yoruba heritage to build a more inclusive and prosperous society. The celebration concluded with vibrant cultural displays, including traditional dances and chants that echoed through the historic streets of the “Cradle of Yoruba Civilization.”
