Princess Alimot Moredeke Ajoke Osunbunmi, 10, to lead 2026 Osun-Osogbo Festival as new Arugba
Princess Alimot Moredeke Ajoke Osunbunmi, a 10-year-old from the royal family of the Ataoja of Osogbo, has been selected as the new Arugba for the Osun-Osogbo Festival. Her selection, made through traditional Ifa divination in March 2025, follows the marriage of the previous Arugba, Osuntomi Ewatomi, who served for about 12 years. The Arugba is a revered figure in the centuries-old Yoruba cultural festival, serving as a symbolic link between the Osun deity and devotees. A strict requirement for the role is that the chosen girl must be a virgin from a royal lineage, with her purity considered essential to the festival's spiritual significance. At nine years old, Alimot became one of the youngest Arugbas in recent years. Due to her young age and the physical demands, a male chief priest, Baba Osun Adesina, carried the sacred calabash during the 2025 festival, while Alimot led the procession. Traditionalists expect her to assume full responsibility for carrying the calabash when she is older. The Arugba traditionally carries a sacred calabash with ritual offerings to the Osun grove, believed to convey the community's prayers and burdens to the Osun River goddess. The Osun-Osogbo Festival, one of Nigeria鈥檚 oldest traditional festivals, is centered around the Osun Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 2026 festival is scheduled from August 7 to August 19, featuring traditional rites, cultural displays, and the Arugba procession.
