Ataoja leads ‘Iboriade’ ritual as Osun-Osogbo Festival continues

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Laaroye II, on Monday led the traditional Iboriade ceremony, a key ritual in the ongoing Osun-Osogbo Festival, held at the Ataoja’s Palace in the Osun State capital.

The Iboriade, which involves the assemblage and blessing of the crowns of all past Ataojas, is one of the most sacred events of the festival.

The traditional rite was performed by the Iya Osun (chief priestess), after which the reigning Ataoja offered prayers for the well-being of the community using traditional items, including gin.

So far, 18 Ataojas, including the current monarch, have ascended the throne of Osogbo, and their crowns and other traditional items were central to the ceremony.

Present at the event were traditional chiefs, Osun priestesses (Olosun), adherents of the Osun religion, past and present Arugba (votary maids), royal princesses, and market women (Iyalojas), who witnessed the spiritual rites and symbolic blessings.

Traditional items used in the ceremony included sugar, honey, sugarcane, adun, coconut, kolanut, banana, gin, royal regalia, crowns, and the horsetail whisk (irukere), among others.

According to tradition, the Ataoja tasted the ritual food first, followed by his wives, visiting monarchs, and then others present at the ceremony.

The Osun-Osogbo Festival, a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage event, continues throughout the week with various traditional activities in celebration of the Osun goddess.