OJÚDÈ ÒBÁ: Fashion Meets Ancestral Pride
By Ganiyat Musa
Every year, beneath the sun-dappled skies of Ijebu-Ode, a spectacular cultural event unfolds — OJÚDÈ ÒBÁ, meaning “The King’s Forecourt”, where tradition and modernity converge in a dazzling display of fashion, pageantry, and ancestral pride.
Originally a gathering of Muslim converts to pay homage to the Awujale, the paramount ruler of the Ijebu people, OJÚDÈ ÒBÁ has evolved into one of Nigeria’s grandest cultural festivals. Today, it transcends religious lines and has become a vibrant showcase of Ijebu identity, attracting dignitaries, fashion icons, and culture enthusiasts from across the globe.
At the heart of the celebration is fashion — an eloquent language through which the Ijebu people express history, wealth, and communal pride. Clad in resplendent aso-oke, richly embroidered agbadas, and intricate gele headwraps, families and age-grade groups (known as regberegbe) parade before the king in an unforgettable spectacle of colour and craftsmanship.
Each outfit tells a story — of lineage, legacy, and evolving aesthetics. Designers across Nigeria now look to OJÚDÈ ÒBÁ for inspiration, where traditional textiles meet contemporary cuts, creating garments that bridge the past and present. The festival has become a powerful platform for promoting indigenous fashion, sustaining local craftsmanship, and celebrating African beauty.
Yet, beyond the glamour lies a deeper message: OJÚDÈ ÒBÁ reaffirms the Ijebu people’s unwavering connection to their roots. It is an annual reminder that while the world evolves, cultural pride remains timeless.
As Nigeria’s creative industries continue to soar, OJÚDÈ ÒBÁ stands as a radiant example of how ancestral pride and fashion innovation can walk hand in hand, captivating the world — one regal outfit at a time.
Cover Credit
Outfit: @blackadudu007
Photographer : @roevisuals
Assistant photographer: @1st_mayoroflagos
Stylist: @yomo_daj
Assistant stylist : @ms_lydiaa_
Makeup artist : @tht_glam
Content creator : @mabelawonuga_
Videographer: @mckoreydey
Drone pilot: @tunmisewilliams
