Lagos: Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, the Alara of Ilara Kingdom of Epe, Lagos State, has announced the cancellation of the 2026 Ojude-Oba Festival.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the decision was made to honor the late Oba Adeshina Adebowale, the Omola of Odomola Kingdom in Epe, who passed away on May 13.
The cancellation was communicated through a royal communique issued by the Alara of Ilara’s palace in Lagos. The Ojude Oba Festival is a significant cultural event for the Ijebu descendants of Ogun and the Epe Ijebus in Lagos State. It involves cultural displays that celebrate ancestral origins and attracts both local and international visitors.
The Alara’s palace encouraged people to observe the Eid-el-Kabir festival peacefully in their homes. The festival, initially scheduled for Thursday, was postponed to allow for the funeral preparations of the late king. This decision reflects a traditional respect and cultural solidarity.
The cancellation was deemed necessary after the passing of the Omola of Odomola Kingdom, who was a close contemporary of Oba Ogunsanwo. The Alara-in-Council concluded that a public celebration would be inappropriate during this period of mourning.
The Alara remembered the late Omola as a custodian of Yoruba culture and a traditional ruler dedicated to community progress. The palace urged community members and international visitors to accept the suspension of the festival in good faith.