The Oyo State Government has established a 10-member committee to organize the 2024 World Sango Festival, scheduled for August.
Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage event in 2023, the Sango Festival of Oyo heralds the commencement of the Yoruba Traditional New Year in August. Rooted in ancestral worship, the festival takes place in Sango, Nigeria, near the ancient Koso Temple.
Over ten days, the festival celebrates the social, religious, cultural, and political fabric of Oyo State.
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, urged the committee to meet expectations, emphasizing the need to secure sponsorship and promote the event locally and internationally.
Acknowledging the role of UNESCO representatives Dr. Paula Gomez and Mr. Emmanuel Odekanyin in securing UNESCO approval, Olatunbosun stressed the importance of meeting international standards to attract a global audience.
The committee, chaired by Mrs. Olayinka Adedeji, General Manager of the Cultural Centre, Ibadan, with Gomez as co-chair, comprises officials from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, among others.
An estimated 15,000 local and international tourists are expected to attend this year’s Sango Festival in Oyo town.
During the festival, Sango devotees and followers gather on the Yoruba New Year’s Eve to share roasted new yam and palm oil. Participants dress in red attire adorned with white and red beads, engaging in chanting, storytelling, drumming, and dancing.
The festival serves as a platform for transmitting Sango’s magical crafts and rites through apprenticeships, fostering unity and cultural preservation within the Oyo community.
