Sango Festival

Last updated
Sango Festival
StatusActive
GenreFestivals
FrequencyAnnually
VenuePalace of Alaafin of Oyo
Location(s) Oyo State
Coordinates 7°51′31″N3°55′56″E / 7.8586108°N 3.9321151°E / 7.8586108; 3.9321151
Country Nigeria
Years active1300 AD–present
Founder Sango
Most recentAugust 2022 (2022-08)
Next eventAugust 2023 (2023-08)
Participants20,000
Area Nigeria, Afro-Caribbean, Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Portugal, Cameroun
Organised byPeople of Oyo State
Sango Festival, Oyo
Country Nigeria
Reference 01974
Region Africa
Inscription history
Inscription2023 (18th session)
List Representative
A group of local caterers prepare Amala ( a meal made from yam flour) in Oyo town, South-West Nigeria during the celebration of Sango Festival in Oyo. Communal Feeding.jpg
A group of local caterers prepare Amala ( a meal made from yam flour) in Oyo town, South-West Nigeria during the celebration of Sango Festival in Oyo.

Sango Festival is an annual festival held among the Yoruba people in honour of Sango, a thunder and fire deity who was a warrior and the third king of the Oyo Empire after succeeding Ajaka his elder brother. [1] Renamed in 2013 to World Sango Festival by the government of Oyo State, the festival is usually held in August at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo and also observed in over forty countries around the world. [2]

Contents

History

The Sango Festival celebrations can be traced back to 1,000 years ago following the departure of Sango, a popular Yoruba òrìṣà who is widely regarded as the founding father of the Oyo people [3]

Sango was a notable strong ruler and magician who became king of the Oyo Empire after succeeding his elder brother who was perceived to be a "weak ruler". [4] Believed to bring prosperity to the people of the Oyo Empire during his reign, Sango's death has been linked to different mythical stories. It is believed that Sango committed suicide by hanging himself in order to avoid humiliation from one of his powerful chiefs who ordered Sango to vacate his throne or face war. [5] Sango was said to have reigned for just seven years as King over Oyo but with such a powerful leadership he was counted as the best King ever in the history of Oyo rulers. [6] During the 2021 festivity, the Ayabas i.e. the wife's of King boast of how they stopped rain from falling which would have disturbed the ceremony after consulting the Yemoja and the Sango priest. Also, the festival is said to start with Iwure Agba meaning the prayer of the elders that is usually led by the Sango priest. [7]

Significance

Since its renaming in 2013, the event which is usually held in August and runs for a week attracts over 20,000 spectators around the world including Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. [8] The event which is recognized by UNESCO, is organized to facilitate the home-coming of the Yorubas in the diaspora and also celebrate Sango who is regarded as the greatest hero in the history of the Yoruba race. [9]

How sango festival is celebrated

The Sango Festival is a 10 days event, which is marked with pomp and pageantry. Worshippers and visitors can be seen in a happy mood. The worshippers are usually adorned with white or red attire. Some of the activities lined up for the festival include: Ayo competition, Ogun Ajobo day, Oya day, Aje Oloja day, Iyemoja day, Esin Elejo day and Sango Oyo day. [1]

See also

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shango</span> Orisha, or deity, in the Yoruba religion

Shango is an Orisha in Yoruba religion. Genealogically speaking, Shango is a royal ancestor of the Yoruba as he was the third Alaafin of the Oyo Kingdom prior to his posthumous deification. Shango has numerous manifestations, including Airá, Agodo, Afonja, Lubé, and Obomin. He is known for his powerful double axe (Oṣè). He is considered to be one of the most powerful rulers that Yorubaland has ever produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oyo Empire</span> Former empire in present-day Benin and Nigeria

The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire in West Africa. It was located in present-day southern Benin and western Nigeria. The empire grew to become the largest Yoruba-speaking state through the organizational and administrative efforts of the Yoruba people, trade, as well as the military use of cavalry. The Oyo Empire was one of the most politically important states in Western Africa from the mid-17th to the late 18th century and held sway not only over most of the other kingdoms in Yorubaland, but also over nearby African states, notably the Fon Kingdom of Dahomey in the modern Republic of Benin on its west.

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Abiodun was an 18th-century alaafin, or king, of the Oyo people in what is now Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaafin</span> Ruler of Oyo

Alaafin, or The custodian of the Palace in the Yoruba language, is the title of the king of the medieval Oyo empire and present-day Oyo town of West Africa. It is the particular title of the Oba (king) of the Oyo. It is sometimes translated as "emperor" in the context of ruler of empire. He ruled the old Oyo Empire, which extended from the present-day Benin republic to Nigeria, originating from states in the South East and West to the North. The people under him are called Yoruba people and spoke the Yoruba Language.

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References

  1. 1 2 Oluseye Ojo (2 October 2014). "Magic, thunder as tourists storm Oyo for Sango festival". The Sun . Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  2. "2 Day World Sango Festival". Afro Tourism. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  3. "FG To Support Sango Festival". Osun Defender. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  4. Ajaka
  5. Samuel Johnson; Johnson; Obadiah Johnson (2010-09-30). The History of the Yorubas: From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the British Protectorate. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-1-108-02099-2.
  6. "Sango Festival: We must preserve, sustain our culture, tradition- Alaafin". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2021-08-22. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  7. "How we stopped rain for Sango festival celebration -Alaafin's wife". Punch Newspapers. 2021-08-22. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  8. "Foreigners thrill audience at World Sango Festival". The Nation . 1 September 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  9. "The world hails Sango festival". The Nation . 3 September 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.