| Sango Festival | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Festivals |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Palace ofAlaafin of Oyo |
| Location | Oyo State |
| Coordinates | 7°51′31″N3°55′56″E / 7.8586108°N 3.9321151°E /7.8586108; 3.9321151 |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Years active | 1300 AD–present |
| Founder | Sango |
| Most recent | August 2022 (2022-08) |
| Next event | August 2023 (2023-08) |
| Participants | 20,000 |
| Area | Nigeria,Afro-Caribbean,Brazil,Cuba,Trinidad and Tobago,Portugal,Cameroun |
| Organised by | People ofOyo State |
| Sango Festival, Oyo | |
|---|---|
| Country | Nigeria |
| Reference | 01974 |
| Region | Africa |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2023 (18th session) |
| List | Representative |
Sango Festival is an annual festival held among theYoruba people in honour ofSango, a thunder and firedeity who was a warrior and the third king of theOyo Empire after succeedingAjaka his elder brother.[1] Renamed in 2013 toWorld Sango Festival by the government ofOyo State, the festival is usually held in August at the palace of theAlaafin of Oyo and also observed in over forty countries around the world.[2]
The Sango Festival celebrations can be traced back to 1,000 years ago following the departure of Sango, a popular Yorubaòrìṣà who is widely regarded as the founding father of theOyo 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]
Since 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 includingBrazil,Cuba,Trinidad and Tobago and theCaribbean.[8] The event which is recognized byUNESCO, 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]
The 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]