DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Isese Day: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo declare Thursday work-free

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states have declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day to celebrate Isese Day, an annual commemoration of Yoruba culture and traditional religion.
  • The holiday allows residents to participate in prayers, rituals, and cultural activities honoring African Traditional Religion.
  • Lagos anticipates over three million participants, framing the event as a significant global gathering celebrating Yoruba heritage worldwide.

The governments of Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states have declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day to observe Isese Day. This annual celebration honors Yoruba culture, traditional religion, and indigenous heritage, allowing public servants and residents to participate in related activities.

Isese is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape.

— Idris AregbeThe Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture explained the significance of Isese Day.

In Lagos, the celebration is expected to draw over three million people, potentially marking the largest gathering of adherents of African Traditional Religion globally. Idris Aregbe, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, emphasized that Isese is a "living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality." He highlighted the enduring global reach of Yoruba culture, noting its preservation in countries like Cuba, Brazil, and across the Caribbean.

Aregbe stated that when the "drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain." He positioned Lagos as being "at the centre of a global heritage," underscoring the international significance of the observance. The Lagos government has observed Isese Day as a public holiday since 2023, following a request from the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, aligning with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's commitment to indigenous values.

When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage.

— Idris AregbeAregbe highlighted the international reach and significance of Yoruba culture during the Isese Day celebration.

The celebration, coordinated by the Association of African Traditional Religion Nigeria and Overseas, will feature prayers, rituals, processions, drumming, and cultural displays dedicated to the Orisa. Aregbe thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for his support and paid tribute to traditional rulers and custodians of Yoruba religious practices, stating, "Governments come and go. Custodians carry the culture."

Governments come and go. Custodians carry the culture.

— Idris AregbeAregbe acknowledged the role of traditional leaders and cultural practitioners in preserving Yoruba heritage.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog