…as President Calls for Members’ Participation in Osun Election
Close to 100 masquerades from different towns across Osun State, Lagos and other parts of the country converged on the Freedom Park, Osogbo, on Wednesday for the maiden edition of the World Egungun Festival hosted in Osun State.
The festival, organised by Ijo Oje Parapo Welfare Association Nigeria and Overseas in collaboration with the Osun State Government, featured colourful displays by masquerades and attracted traditional worshippers, government officials and hundreds of spectators.
Speaking at the event, the host and Osun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Bankole Ojo, described the festival as another milestone in the promotion of Yoruba cultural heritage, assuring that the state government would continue to support recognised religions, including traditional worshippers, Christians and Muslims.
Ojo said the present administration, under Governor Ademola Adeleke, has provided the needed support to all recognised religious groups since he assumed office as commissioner.
He described the maiden World Egungun Festival in Osun as the beginning of a bigger cultural celebration, expressing confidence that subsequent editions would attract more participants and visitors.
The commissioner said Egungun Festival remains a source of pride that must not be allowed to go into extinction, urging people to promote the cultural heritage in their various communities.
He also commended Egungun worshippers for their commitment and efforts in ensuring the successful hosting of the festival despite challenges encountered during preparations.
Also speaking, the President of Ijo Oje Parapo Welfare Association Worldwide and Chief Host of the event, Prince Adeola Ayoola, commended Governor Ademola Adeleke for approving the hosting of the World Egungun Festival in Osun State.
Ayoola said the festival would further unite masquerade worshippers across the state and strengthen peace and harmony among them.
According to him, one of the major objectives of the association is to educate people against the misuse of masquerades, noting that the association’s advocacy through social media and coordinated enlightenment campaigns has helped revive interest in masquerade culture, which was gradually going into extinction.
He added that the World Egungun Festival would remain a continuous cultural celebration like the Osun-Osogbo Festival and would be sustained irrespective of the government in power.
Ayoola also urged members of the association and residents of Osun State to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the August 15 governorship election and participate peacefully in the electoral process by voting for candidates of their choice.
Earlier in his remarks, the Asiwaju of Ijo Oje Parapo Worldwide, Prince Adegoke Ayilara, appealed to the Osun State Government to provide greater support for the festival in future editions to enable it expand further.
Ayilara also cautioned masquerade worshippers against using masquerades to perpetrate violence, warning that anyone found engaging in such acts would be arrested by law enforcement agencies.
He stressed that masquerades are meant to promote communities and preserve cultural heritage, not to destroy them.
Ayilara noted that although the World Egungun Festival had previously been held in Lagos, Oyo and other places, the 2026 edition marked its first outing in Osun State.
