Most Interesting Celebrated Festivals You Won't Want To Miss

1. New Yam Festival

The New Yam Festival is of Igbo culture usually  at Cross River State to the Iriji-Mmanwu  festival in Enugu State.This  tradition is one of the most colourful event in Nigeria where yam is seen as the king of all crops. The festival marks the time of harvest and the beginning of a new planting season, usually between August and October. Old yams are eaten before the festival and new yams are consumed on the day of the festival, in the form of various yam dishes.

2.Eyo Festival

A Yoruba festival that transforms the commercial Lagos Island to be stunning white. It attracts a lot of tourists from around the world who come to see costumed dancers or masquerades called Eyo. A lot of major roads are closed. It is strongly believed that Eyo Festival is one of the world biggest carnival.It’s believed by some that the masquerade takes away sickness and poverty, bringing wealth. Eyo masquerades can be seen mainly in Lagos Island (Isale Eko) during times of celebrations.

3. Osun Festival

The Osun Festival is an annual ,celebrated in honor of Osun, the Yoruba goddess of fertility. Osun festival attracts thousands of visitors from different parts of the world. The festival is usually twelve days long . The Osun River, which is believed to have healing powers and believed to be where the goddess resides, runs through the forest. The major highlight of the event is when the Arugba (Carrier of the Calabash) carries the sacrifices and offerings (usually food items) of the people from the Oba’s palace to the Osun Riverbank in the presence of the people.

4.Sharo/Shadi Festival

Sharo/Shadi Festival is celebrated by the fulanis.it is Celebrated By Flogging

It is a public ceremony that shows the bravery and endurance of boys who passing into manhood. The festival is held twice a year. The first of the festival is usually held during the dry season when guinea corn is being harvested, and the second during the Muslim festival of Id-el-Kabir.

5. Sango Festival

 Sango Festival  is celebrated in the honour of Sango the all powerful god in Yoruba land. This festival is celebrated annually. Sango is  the God of  thunder and fire deity who was a warrior and the third king of the Oyo Empire. It brings back the past history and celebrates the culture and tradition of the people, while creating wealth and employment for the people.

6.Ojude Oba

‘Ojude Oba’ which translates to “king’s front yard” is a cultural festival observed in honor of the Awujale, the paramount ruler of Ijebu-Ode land  in Nigeria. Though the festival started out as a religious festival for Muslims ,it is celebrated on every third day of Eid-el-Kabir it is now observed by most Ijebu people. The major attractions at Ojude Oba are the display of horses by warriors, colorful traditional attire worn by various groups, beauty pageants, and traditional music.

7. Argungu Fishing Festival

Argungu fishing festival is an allure dynamics festival, and the anxious competitors who are ready to jump inside the river to begin their search for the biggest fish make this fishing festival extraordinary and beautiful

8. Olojo festival

Olojo festival is an annual festival celebrated at Ile Ife,Osun State. The festival is a celebration of Ogun the god of Iron. Olojo festival day which can be literally translated as the “Owner of the day” signifies the day of the year that the Olodumare (creator of the universe) has specially blessed. The Ooni, the king of Ile-Ife appears in public on this day with the Are Crown. On this day, the Ooni will visit different shrines to offer prayers for the peace in Yoruba lands.

9. Oro Festival

Oro festival  is a festival celebrated in almost all Yoruba towns in Nigeria. The festival is an annual one with only male natives of the town can be where the festival is taking place. During the Oro festival, non-natives and females stay indoors because it is believed that it is a taboo for a woman or anyone who is not allowed to participate in the festival to see the Oro.

10. Igogo Festival

The Igogo Festival  is a Yoruba festival which takes place every year in Owo town, Ondo State, Nigeria. The festival is held in honour of Queen Orosen, a goddess and a mythical wife of ancient Oluwo of Iwo.The festival takes place every lasts for seventeen days of September . During the festival celebration, the king of Owo and the high chiefs all dress like women wearing beaded gowns, coral beads, head gears and caps with their hair plaited.

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