Iloko Ijesa community in Osun State is preparing for another memorable edition of the Obalogun Festival as the community releases the full schedule of activities for the 2025 celebration.
The programme covers several days in November and December with traditional rites, cultural visits, and community gatherings that reflect the deep history of the town.
The festival opens on Saturday 15 November 2025 with Àrisùn Ìdìjó from 6 in the evening to 10 at night at Aafin Owaloko. This marks the first stage of the annual observance.
The celebration continues in the early hours of Sunday 16 November with Òjó Ìdìjó scheduled for midnight to 3 in the morning at Ùdì Arágba. This part of the festival is known to carry strong cultural significance within the town.
Main activities resume on Monday 24 November with the formal beginning of the Obalogun rites, Ìbèrè Òdún Ọbalógun, between 2 and 4 in the morning. The procession involves trips to Afero, Ule Obalogun, Oja Umure and other heritage points in the area.
Another major phase, Apárà Ùbèrè Òdún Ọbalógun, will hold from 4 to 5:30 in the morning. Participants will move through Ule Obalogun, Oke Adura, Oja Umure, Udi Aragba and Afero as part of centuries old traditions connected to the forebears of the town.
The same time frame on the same day is fixed for Apárà Opin Òdún Ọbalógun, which signals the closing segment of that cycle of rites across the same sacred locations.
The final celebration comes up on Tuesday 2 December 2025 with Èsí Jíjà between 4 and 5:30 in the morning at Upara Obalogun and Udi Aragba. In the evening, the town will host Òdún Ìwòṣọ also known as Uha Aso, followed by the Obalogun reception and several social activities from 5:30 to 9 at night at Aafin Owaloko.
The Owaloko in Council noted that the festival remains one of the most important cultural events of Iloko Ijesa, attracting sons and daughters of the town as well as visitors who seek to experience true Yoruba heritage.
The council encouraged residents to participate fully and uphold the values passed down through generations.
