THE OSUN RIVER

Osun is a state located in the south western part of Nigeria. To be sure, Osun is river goddess associated with fruitfulness. Osun is said to be the wife of sango(the god of thunder) along with Oya. In the Yoruba mythology, it is still believed that Osun turned to a river, some argued that the source of Osun is in Igede in Ekiti state. 

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‎The story of creation os Osogbo's township is linked with the Osun river through two hunters from Igbole ijesha when they were hunting and their names were Lanroye & Timileyin and these two hunters settled at the base of the Osun river of which they do their cookings and other things. One faithful day while these two hunters, Lanroye and Timileyin were at the base of the river, one of the branches of the tree reportedly broke and fell into the Osun river, the branch of the tree broke due to the constant heat from their cookings. 

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‎Thereafter, it was reported that the Osun goddess cried out saying "Eyin osho gbogbo (that was what became Osun Osogbo river) you have destroyed my pot of dye" and so the goddess commanded Lanroye and Timileyin to more uphill from the river base to the location where we have the current Oja Oba in Osun state and so the goddess promised them that they would prosper and be fruitful and they will become mighty. While they were preparing to move uphill, the Osun goddess blessed and gave them fishes so that was how Osogbo became "Atewo gbeja". In other words, the story of the origin of osogbo emancipated from encounters from the local hunters with the Osun goddess and from that time, it has become a tradition in osogbo for the Osun goddess to be worshipped annually and the worship of Osun in osogbo is what we know as the OSUN OSOGBO FESTIVAL.

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‎It is equally important to note that there were two Europeans that did a lot to propagate or popularize Osun Osogbo festival. These europeans were German scholars and their names were Karen Berber and Susan Wenger. 

‎The collaboration of Osun festival which is usually done in August starts with the lightening of 16 lamps accompanied by cleaning of the entire town and vigils are also done at the peak of the ceremony. Rituals for worship are also done at the Osun river where a virgin known as the "Arugba" who will carry the calabash containing all the materials for the rituals to be performed. It is generally believed that the Arugba must not stumble while carrying the ritual materials. 

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‎At the Osun groove, the priest will perform the rituals and substantially bless the people and the town. The oba of the town who is the chief celebrant will equally give his blessings to be people and the town, thereafter, the people will return from the Osun groove to the main town with dancing and general celebrations. People with dignitaries will equally pay homage to the oba in his palace. The Osun osogbo festival is designated by the UNESCO as an international festival,that is, it is internationally recognized and this festival draws participants from all over the world particularly by Yorubas in the diaspora in places like, Brazil, USA, Haiti and the likes.