The Osun Osogbo festival is one of the oldest festivals in Nigeria. It’s been practised for so many years. And this tradition is being passed down from generation to generation. The significance of a festival is in its continuity. This has awarded the Osun-Osogbo festival as the most celebrated ritual in the Southwest. Undoubtedly, festivals are intricate social events you want to be a part of. It covers a period when people and organizations are engaged in a range of activities in different locations. In Nigeria, festivals play a significant role in marking history and culture. Although, the earliest history of the communities where cultural festivals are celebrated may be found in the majority of African nations. Still, traditional festival celebrations serve as occasions for cultural analysis. This gives room for people to recall significant moments in their communities’ past and devise modifications where necessary. Beyond excitement, drums and dancing, cultural festivals are a traditional way for you to learn about Yoruba communities. Where is Osun-Osogbo located? Osun-Osogbo is located in the Southwestern region of Nigeria. It is about four hour drive from Nigeria’s commercial capital-Lagos. Osun Osogbo is located in Osun State. The state is regarded as the founding home of the Yoruba. It is the location of Ile Ife. The founding home of the progenitor of the Yoruba race. The origin of the Osun-Osogbo Festival The annual Osun Osogbo festival is a two-week-long celebration that includes twelve days of rituals, entertainment and cultural preservation. The first festival was recorded 700 years ago. The origin of the Osun-Osogbo festival is linked to the prominent role played by the Osun goddess in the establishment and settlement of Osogbo. The Osun goddess is highly revered as the goddess of fertility, giver of prosperity, goddess of children, a healer and a diviner by the Osun people. Women expecting children often attend the festival to seek fruit of the womb. A long time ago, after the ancestors of Osogbo discovered a new colony, they decided to liberate and develop the regions. All they had in mind was a habitation for themselves and their descendants. However, in the process of doing this, they came in touch with the “Oso Igbo” which means wizard of the forest. This happened when the ancestors cleared out a portion of land. A tree was cut down and it dropped on the river. It was recorded in history that the goddess was angry because of this and decided to appear to the wrongdoers. As a way to appease the goddess of the river for the distortion, the ancestors of Osogbo decided to offer a sacrifice. Thankfully, the river goddess received the sacrifice and made a pact with the people of Osogbo. Another notable occurrence was the representative that the goddess sent to the people of Osun. This messenger came in form of a fish and it was received on the palms of the traditional ruler at that time. The agreement was that the sacrifice would be done annually. In return, the Osun goddess promised to support and protect the inhabitants of Osun-Osogbo. The instructions were given to the people of Osogbo as a condition for their growth, wealth, safety and establishment. The inhabitants of Osun have since kept their part of the deal. Traditional rulers that have emerged, continue to offer sacrifices to the Osun goddess yearly. Location of Osun-Osogbo Festival, The Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove With a history dating back several centuries, the Osun-Osogbo Grove is one of the last remaining sacred forests in Nigeria. Sacred groves previously bordered most Yoruba settlements before widespread civilization. This has led to the destruction of most sacred groves. The Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 in recognition of its importance on a worldwide scale and its cultural significance. It is one of the two UNESCO world heritage sites in Nigeria. The Osun-Osogbo Grove was profaned in the 1950s when grove shrines were disregarded and priests left the area as traditional obligations and punishments decreased. Thanks to Susanne Wenger who brought back the glory of this once glorious heritage. Date of The Osun Osogbo Festival The date for the Osun Osogbo festival is usually celebrated in August every year. Remarkable Happenings at the Osun Osogbo Festival Despite the presence of other ancestral festivals in Osogbo, the Osun-Osogbo festival is the most popular and exceptional in the entire region. To add to this, the celebration is particularly well-liked not just among the Yoruba tribe in southwest Nigeria, but it is also globally renowned. It should be noted that the Osun festival is an orderly ceremony. Therefore, you need to understand the basis of the event and all there is to this exceptional practice. The festival is attended by tourists from different countries of the world, Here are the remarkable events that take place at the festival and all you should know about them; The road cleansing sacrifice The Osun Osogbo festival opens yearly in August with a road cleansing sacrifice- ‘Iwó Pópó’. This is a replica of the historical path clearing that took place years ago. This happening starts with the traditional clearing of the unwanted plants and trees along the central path of the community. It is necessary to prevent anything that might impede the inflow of visitors to Osogbo and demonstrates ancestral protection. Once this is completed, the Osun festival can begin in its full glory. Majorly, all the acts conducted at the festival are repetitions of the events that took place in Osogbo years ago. The role of the Traditional ruler- Ataoja, Osun priest and priestess It must be mentioned that the sacred rituals of the Osun Osogbo festival re-establish the spiritual union and renew the pathway between the goddess and the people of Osogbo. The Ataoja is the title of the traditional ruler in Osogbo. It is the short form of ‘Atéwógbeja’. This means the palms stretched out to receive the fish. I mentioned this in the history of the
List of All UNESCO World Heritage Sites Around The World
List of All UNESCO World Heritage Sites Around the World The UNESCO World Heritage sites are a list of sites or landmarks around the World selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) due to their historical, cultural, traditional and scientific significance. There are certain factors considered in choosing these destinations, the sites must have a common interest for humanity, the site must currently be a popular landmark in that country. There are over One thousand of UNESCO World Heritage Sites scattered in different countries around the world and across the different continents. We all have a thousand and one reasons to travel the world but often don’t know where to go, you can add some of these places to your bucket lists. History of the World Heritage Site The UNESCO World Heritage sites were created in 1978 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) an arm of the United Nations to preserve the Worlds cultural, natural and historical heritage. These sites are not owned by the United Nations rather the United Nations serves as a Governing body to make sure they are well preserved from generations to generations. To get listed, The member state must apply and must be approved by UNESCO. Furthermore, UNESCO does not have the power to list a site without the approval of the host country. However, UNESCO has the power to delist a country from the World Heritage Site. Getting listed in the UNESCO World Heritage sites is not as easy as you’d think, as the governing body responsible for selecting the sites meets yearly and only a few fractions of the list will be approved and listed. Different nations around the World lobby hard to get sites in their countries like monuments, historic ruins, tourist attraction sites, majestic buildings, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage sites. This will bring significant tourist income, awareness and it would generally improve the overall economic value of the presiding state. Criteria For Selection There are certain criteria the site must meet to be considered a UNESCO World Heritage sites. The site must be of outstanding universal value and must meet at least one out of the ten selection criteria. The site must be an already existing landmark and must have been submitted in the tentative list of World Heritage Sites. Below are the criteria that must be met for a site to be listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites 1. It must represent a masterpiece of human creative genius 2. Exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design; 3. Bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared; 4. It must be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history; 5. To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change; 6. It should be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria); 7. It should contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance; 8. to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features; 9. It should be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals; 10. to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. Also Read: The Seven Wonders Of the World List of All UNESCO World Heritage Site Around the World by Country Here is the list of all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the World listed by country. There are over a thousand of them all over the world ranging from historical ruins to buildings to monuments etc Afghanistan Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley Albania Butrint Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe * Algeria Al Qal’a of Beni Hammad Djémila M’Zab Valley Tassili n’Ajjer # Timgad Tipasa Kasbah of Algiers Andorra Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley Angola Mbanza Kongo, Vestiges of the Capital of the former Kingdom of Kongo Antigua and Barbuda Antigua Naval Dockyard and Related Archaeological Sites Argentina Los Glaciares National Park # Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil) * Iguazu National Park Cueva de las Manos, Río Pinturas Península Valdés Ischigualasto / Talampaya Natural Parks Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba Quebrada de Humahuaca Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System * The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement * Los Alerces National Park Armenia Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley Australia Great Barrier Reef Kakadu National Park Willandra Lakes Region Lord Howe Island Group Tasmanian Wilderness Gondwana Rainforests of Australia 1 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 2 Wet Tropics of Queensland Shark Bay, Western Australia Fraser Island Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte) Heard and McDonald Islands Macquarie Island Greater Blue Mountains Area Purnululu National Park Royal