Ojúde Ọba — Ijẹ̀bú festival held at the king's forecourt
Category: Festivals
An annual festival in Ijẹ̀bú Ọde where age-group societies (regberegbe) parade in colourful regalia before the Awùjalẹ̀ (king).
Ojúde Ọba literally means "the king's forecourt" — it draws large crowds of Ijẹ̀bú people from across Nigeria and the diaspora every year.
The festival brings together regberegbe — age-group societies that Ìjẹ̀bú people traditionally join based on when they were born — who parade before the Awùjalẹ̀ in coordinated group outfits, on foot or on horseback.
Held a few days after Eid al-Kabir, it draws large crowds of Ìjẹ̀bú people travelling back from across Nigeria and the diaspora specifically for the occasion, making it as much a homecoming as a royal celebration.
Example: Àwọn ọmọ Ìjẹ̀bú máa ń bọ̀ wá sí ilé fún ọdún Ojúde Ọba lọ́dọọdún. — "Ijebu people come back home for the Ojude Oba festival every year."
Related words:
- Awùjalẹ̀ — The traditional ruler of Ìjẹ̀bú Ọde
- Regberegbe — The age-group societies that parade at the festival