IJERO-EKITI, NIGERIA — The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, is set to lead scores of traditional rulers from across South-West Nigeria to the 2026 Ita Ajero Festival in Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State, in a move aimed at strengthening Yoruba unity, preserving cultural heritage and reconnecting descendants of Oduduwa with their ancestral roots.
The announcement was made by the Owa Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo, while unveiling activities for this year’s festival. He described the Ita Ajero Festival as more than a cultural celebration, saying it is a historic gathering rooted in the shared ancestry of the Yoruba people.
According to the monarch, the participation of the Ooni and other royal fathers from across Yorubaland reflects the growing importance of the festival as a platform for promoting cultural identity, unity and historical consciousness among Yoruba communities.
Oba Adebayo explained that the festival traces its origins to the ancient relationship between Ijero-Ekiti and Ile-Ife, where descendants of Oduduwa traditionally gathered to deliberate on matters affecting their people. He said the gathering is regarded as one of the historical symbols of consultation and collective decision-making in Yoruba civilisation.
“Ita Ajero is not just a festival. It is our history, our culture and the place where the children of Oduduwa gathered to deliberate and take decisions,” the monarch said while outlining the significance of the event.
The royal father also recalled that the Ooni personally took representatives from Ijero-Ekiti to the original Ita Ajero site in Ile-Ife, an experience he said reinforced the community’s historical connection to the ancient Yoruba kingdom.
Activities for the 2026 edition will begin on August 18 and conclude with a grand finale on August 21 at Erekesen Market Square in Ijero-Ekiti. Organisers said the programme will feature the Miss Ita Ajero Pageant, Shugudu Night, traditional performances and appearances by the kingdom’s four revered masquerades.
The organisers also announced plans to launch a ₦2 billion Ita Ajero Festival Pavilion, which they said will serve as a permanent cultural facility to preserve the festival’s legacy and support future celebrations.
The modern version of the Ita Ajero Festival emerged after a 2023 summit of Ijero indigenes held in Texas, United States, where participants from North America, South America and Europe resolved to establish an annual homecoming celebration that reconnects the diaspora with their ancestral homeland. The first edition was held in 2024, followed by the second in 2025, making this year’s event the third edition.
Ekiti State officials have also thrown their weight behind the festival, describing it as one of the fastest-growing cultural events in Yorubaland. Organisers believe the gathering will not only strengthen cultural bonds but also boost tourism, encourage diaspora participation and promote community development across Ijero-Ekiti.
With the Ooni expected to lead a large delegation of South-West monarchs, this year’s Ita Ajero Festival is poised to become one of the biggest cultural gatherings in the region, reinforcing the enduring significance of Yoruba tradition and shared heritage for generations at home and abroad.
