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]
| Sango Festival | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Festivals |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Palace of Alaafin of Oyo |
| Location(s) | Oyo State |
| Coordinates | 7°51′31″N 3°55′56″E / 7.8586108°N 3.9321151°E |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Years active | 1300 AD–present |
| Founder | Sango |
| Most recent | August 2022 |
| Next event | August 2023 |
| Participants | 20,000 |
| Area | Nigeria, Afro-Caribbean, Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Portugal, Cameroun |
| Organised by | People of Oyo State |
| Sango Festival, Oyo | |
|---|---|
| Country | Nigeria |
| Reference | 01974 |
| Region | Africa |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2023 (18th session) |
| List | Representative |
History
editThe 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. His reign ended due to the inadvertent destruction of his palace by lightning. [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
editSince 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
editThe 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
editFurther reading
edit- Karin Barber (1993). I Could Speak Until Tomorrow: Oriki, Women, and the Past in a Yoruba Town. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-7486-0287-2.
- Ayobunmi Sosi Sangode (H.L. Iyalosa.) (1996). The Cult of Sango: The Study of Fire : an Anthology. Athelia Henrietta Press. ISBN 978-0-9638787-4-8.
- Rosalind I. J. Hackett (1996). Art and religion in Africa. Cassell P L C. ISBN 978-0-304-33752-1.
References
edit- ^ a b 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 Day World Sango Festival". Afro Tourism. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ^ "FG To Support Sango Festival". Osun Defender. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ Ajaka
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "How we stopped rain for Sango festival celebration -Alaafin's wife". Punch Newspapers. 2021-08-22. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ^ "Foreigners thrill audience at World Sango Festival". The Nation. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ^ "The world hails Sango festival". The Nation. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.