A defining moment unfolded at the grand finale of the 2026 Osun-Osogbo Festival on Friday as 10-year-old Princess Alimot Moredeke Ajoke Osunbunmi made history by carrying the revered Arugba calabash for the first time, marking her official assumption of one of Yoruba culture’s most sacred traditional responsibilities.
Clad in pristine white ceremonial attire and surrounded by traditional priests, palace chiefs and thousands of devotees, the young princess led the iconic procession from the Ataoja of Osogbo’s Palace to the UNESCO-listed Osun Sacred Grove, balancing the sacred calabash believed to contain the collective prayers, sacrifices and petitions of the Osogbo people to Yeye Osun, the Yoruba river goddess.
The procession drew thunderous cheers from worshippers and cultural enthusiasts who lined the streets to witness what many described as a historic milestone in this year’s celebration.
Alimot, a member of the Ataoja’s royal family, was chosen through Ifa divination in March 2025 to succeed Osuntomi Ewatomi, whose tenure as Arugba ended after about 12 years following her marriage.
Although officially installed last year, the princess did not carry the sacred calabash during the 2025 festival because of her age and the physical demands of the ritual. Instead, the responsibility was temporarily undertaken by the Osun chief priest, Baba Osun Adesina, while she led the procession.
Ahead of Friday’s ceremony, she completed the traditional Ìdáfá rites and other customary spiritual preparations required before assuming the full responsibilities of the revered office.
In Yoruba tradition, the Arugba occupies a unique spiritual position as the symbolic bridge between the people of Osogbo and the revered river goddess. The sacred calabash she carries is regarded as a vessel conveying the community’s prayers for peace, protection, fertility, prosperity and divine blessings.
Her successful procession was widely hailed by traditionalists as a powerful affirmation of cultural continuity and the preservation of centuries-old customs that have defined the Osun-Osogbo Festival for generations.
Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the Osun Sacred Grove remains one of Africa’s most important centres of traditional worship and cultural identity, attracting thousands of pilgrims, tourists, researchers and culture enthusiasts from around the world each year.
The annual festival, which celebrates the enduring spiritual covenant between the people of Osogbo and Yeye Osun, remains one of Nigeria’s most iconic cultural events, showcasing the richness of Yoruba heritage while reinforcing the importance of preserving indigenous traditions for future generations.
