Ten-year-old Princess Alimot Moredeke Ajoke Osunbunmi has made history by becoming one of the youngest Arugba (sacred calabash bearer) to carry the revered Osun-Osogbo Festival calabash, marking a significant milestone in the centuries-old Yoruba cultural and religious celebration.
The young princess, who hails from the royal family of the Ataoja of Osogbo, carried the sacred calabash during Friday’s grand procession from the Ataoja’s palace to the Osun Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The calabash contains ritual offerings symbolising the prayers, hopes and sacrifices of the people of Osogbo to the Osun River deity.
Princess Alimot was selected as the new Arugba in March 2025 through the traditional Ifa divination process, succeeding Osuntomi Ewatomi, whose tenure ended after her marriage, in line with long-standing tradition. Although she led the festival procession in 2025, she did not carry the sacred calabash because of her young age. Instead, the responsibility was performed by the chief priest while she led the procession.
Ahead of this year’s procession, the young Arugba completed the required traditional rites, including the Ìdáfá ceremony, which prepared her for the sacred responsibility of bearing the calabash. Traditional custodians of the festival described the completion of the rites as a key requirement before undertaking the symbolic journey to the sacred grove.
The role of the Arugba is one of the most revered in the Osun-Osogbo Festival. According to Yoruba tradition, the Arugba serves as the spiritual link between the Osun deity and the people, carrying ritual offerings on behalf of the community during the annual procession. The position is reserved for a virgin from the royal lineage, with the selection guided by the Ifa oracle.
The annual Osun-Osogbo Festival, which dates back more than six centuries, attracts thousands of traditional worshippers, tourists, researchers and cultural enthusiasts from across Nigeria and abroad. The 2026 edition, themed around preserving Yoruba cultural heritage, features traditional rites, cultural performances, music, dance and other activities celebrating the enduring legacy of the Osun deity.
Princess Alimot’s successful carrying of the sacred calabash has been widely celebrated as a defining moment in this year’s festival, underscoring the continuity of one of Nigeria’s most enduring cultural traditions while highlighting the role of younger generations in preserving the country’s rich heritage.
