ORE, Ondo State — The ancient town of Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, came alive on Sunday as thousands of residents, visitors, dignitaries and cultural enthusiasts stormed the town for the 2026 Ogun Ore Festival.
The annual celebration transformed the economic hub into a spectacular display of colour, tradition and cultural pride, as men, women and youths adorned in richly embroidered traditional outfits joined age-grade groups, chanters, masqueraders and devotees to celebrate Ogun, the Yoruba deity of iron.
The festival featured rhythmic traditional music, cultural performances and elaborate displays by traditional chanter groups, attracting sons and daughters of Ore Kingdom from across Nigeria and the diaspora.
The gathering also brought together politicians across party lines, traditional rulers, captains of industry, religious leaders, tourists, Osun and Sango devotees and other cultural stakeholders.
Speaking at the festival, the Ondo State APC Women’s Leader, Erelu Ayeola Iji, described Ogun as a powerful deity associated with protection, unity, communal harmony and peaceful coexistence.
She said the festival had become more than a cultural gathering, stressing that it offered an opportunity to preserve the community’s heritage while creating avenues for social cohesion and economic development.
“We are building a society that honours its heritage because culture is not only our identity, but also a source of social cohesion and economic opportunity,” Erelu Ayeola said.
She added that the Ogun Festival had been positioned as a flagship cultural event for communities that recognised its enduring significance and potential.
Erelu Ayeola also commended Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for his support for the people of Odigbo Local Government Area, particularly through appointments and employment opportunities for graduates.
According to her, the governor’s intervention contributed to peace, continuity and stability in the community during a sensitive period.
The APC women’s leader further used the occasion to call for prayers for victims of insecurity across the country, particularly families affected by banditry and other forms of violence.
She commended the organisers, planning committee, traditional groups and residents of Ore for preserving the kingdom’s cultural heritage and successfully staging the festival under tight security.
According to her, the Ogun Ore Festival has evolved from a post-Eid homage-paying gathering into a major cultural celebration that attracts people across religious, social and generational divides.
“Today, Ogun Ore stands as a symbol of unity, honour, continuity and cultural pride, where visitors from across the world gather to witness the splendour of our traditions, the elegance of our attire and the discipline of the age-grade groups,” she said.
The Ayadi of Ore Kingdom and organiser of the festival, Chief Tope Ijiniga, described the event as a celebration of unity and continuity, providing sons and daughters of Ore with an opportunity to reconnect with their roots and reaffirm their identity.
Ijiniga paid tribute to the late Olore of Ore, Oba Johnson Akintomide, describing the monarch as an institution whose years on the throne transformed traditional leadership and enhanced the cultural, social and political profile of Ore Kingdom.
The Bàbáloja of Ore Kingdom said the late monarch had made it clear before his transition that nothing should stop the annual Ogun-Ore celebration.
He stressed that the festival must continue as a sacred cultural institution capable of bringing generations together and preserving the identity of the kingdom.
He urged young people to take ownership of their cultural heritage and promote traditions handed down by their forebears, noting that culture could evolve with time without losing its essence.
The 2026 Ogun Ore Festival ended with a colourful convergence of tradition, music, fashion and communal celebration, further cementing Ore’s reputation as a major cultural centre in Ondo State.
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