A viral video has reignited public interest in the history of the Ojude Oba festival after an elderly man offered a detailed account of the cultural event’s origins in Ijebu land.
In the widely shared clip, the man explained that the festival evolved from an earlier traditional gathering known as Ode Nla, where worshippers of various indigenous deities assembled to pay homage to the Awujale, the traditional ruler of the Ijebu people.
According to his narration, the transformation of the event into what is now known as Ojude Oba was influenced by Balogun Kuku, a prominent Ijebu figure who converted to Islam during a period of religious change in the region.
He claimed the conversion later encouraged a group of Muslims to seek recognition and land from the Awujale for religious activities.
The elder said annual visits to appreciate the monarch eventually developed into the colourful Ojude Oba celebration, which remains a major cultural attraction today.