Today Begins the Ọ̀ṣun Osogbo (Oxobô) Festival!

Osogbo is a vast and prosperous city Yorùbá located in the state of Ọ̀ṣun in Nigeria. Its river is located in the main forest of that place, which Ọ̀ṣun has become, however, in this text what matters is not geographical information, but rather, liturgical information for this festival to take place since Ọ̀ṣun's return to ọ̀run, with the other Òrìṣàs. Come on? Come with me!

Ọ̀ṣun was and is a very important deity for the history of the formation of the aye, as it is narrated among the people of Ọbàtálá (my masters Obalesun and Oba Alamo who taught me) of Ilé-Ifẹ̀ and also by the people of Ọbàtálá de Ọ̀yọ́ (bàbá Adisa and one of his sons, they taught me), that Ọ̀ṣun received the eerindinlogun (16 odù oracle, where Ọó ẹyọ - búzios) is used by Ọbàtálá and was one of the first female deities to arrive in the aye, along with Ògún, Ọbàtálá, Èṣù and other Òrìṣàs - which may vary according to the orality of each tradition. 

It is narrated by the Yorùbás that during the creation of the aye, the male irúnmolès failed to try to create the aye. With this defeat, they returned to Ọ̀run, went to speak with Olódùmarè and were told that there was a woman among them and that she was despised by them, so, for them to succeed, they would have to have her help. Then they returned to Ọ̀run, asked Ọ̀ṣun to help them achieve their goal. She joined and they were successful.

The Ọ̀ṣun Osogbo festival is a rite that recalls the importance of the great mother of human beings (as I learned from my teachers in Ilé-Ifẹ̀) and also reinforces the inclusion of women in important activities among the Yorùbás, before the inclusion of women in the others. Western societies. Ọ̀ṣun is the mother who nourishes us all, since 70% of our body is made up of water and 90% of our cells are also made up of water. Ọ̀ṣun is the mother of us all!

Today is a day of worship (Ọ̀sẹ̀) for Ọbàtálá, but Ọ̀ṣun in some traditions is worshiped on the same day as Ọbàtálá. This deun festival began on the day of worship to Ọbàtálá, which proves the connection of both Òrìṣàs.

Ore yeye o!

Oun o!

Ota o!

Eri o!

Edan o!

Agba o!

Omi o!

Text: Caio Victorino - Ọmọ Ọbàtálá;

Photography:

In the photo:

Sources:

1. >Ọbà Alamo - Oba Isoro de Ife;

2. > Obalesun;

3. > Olusegun Daramola (creator of Adúláwọ TV);

4. > Ayobami Ogedengbe.