Three Southwest States Shut Down for Isese Day as Millions Celebrate Yoruba Heritage, Tradition and Spirituality

Three Southwest States Shut Down for Isese Day as Millions Celebrate Yoruba Heritage, Tradition and Spirituality.

Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states have declared Thursday, August 20, work-free to mark this year’s Isese Day, as millions of traditional worshippers and culture enthusiasts across the South-West gather to celebrate Yoruba spirituality, indigenous traditions and a heritage that has survived generations and spread far beyond Nigeria.

The simultaneous declarations have turned the annual celebration into one of the most significant public recognitions of African Traditional Religion and Yoruba cultural identity in Nigeria, with the three states urging residents to use the occasion to celebrate their heritage peacefully while respecting people of other faiths.

In Lagos, the government said more than three million people were expected to participate in this year’s celebration, describing the gathering as potentially one of the largest single assemblies of adherents of African Traditional Religion anywhere in the world.

The state’s Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, announced the work-free day in a statement on Wednesday, stressing that Isese Day should not be reduced to an ordinary public holiday.

“Isese is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” Aregbe said.1

He noted that Yoruba culture had developed into a global heritage, with an estimated 55 million Yoruba people worldwide continuing to preserve their language, customs, traditions and spiritual practices across generations.

According to him, the continued presence of Yoruba traditional practices in countries including Cuba, Brazil and parts of the Caribbean demonstrates the international influence and enduring strength of the culture.

“When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” he said.

Lagos: Three Million People Expected

The Lagos State Government said this year’s Isese Day celebration would mark the climax of a week-long programme featuring traditional prayers, rituals, processions, drumming and cultural performances dedicated to the Orisa.

The activities are being coordinated by the Association of African Traditional Religion Nigeria and Overseas, with traditional rulers and custodians of Yoruba spirituality expected to play prominent roles.

The government explained that Isese Day has been observed as a work-free day in Lagos since 2023, following a request from the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has continued the observance as part of his administration’s commitment to indigenous values, cultural preservation and religious inclusiveness under the THEMES+ agenda.

Aregbe commended Sanwo-Olu for maintaining the tradition, describing the governor's support as evidence of a willingness to publicly recognise and protect indigenous heritage.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, traditional rulers, White Cap Chiefs, Babalawo, Iyanifa, Olooriṣa and other custodians of Yoruba culture.

«“Governments come and go. Custodians carry the culture,” Aregbe said.»

He urged participants to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly, emphasising that the celebration should coexist with Nigeria’s religious diversity.

«“Three million voices rising in honour of tradition is not noise. It is history, faith and cultural pride in harmony,” he said.»

Ogun Reaffirms Commitment to Yoruba Heritage

In Ogun State, the government also declared Thursday a work-free day, saying the decision was aimed at preserving and promoting Yoruba culture, heritage and traditional values.

The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, and made available to journalists on Wednesday.

The state government recalled that August 20 was formally declared a public holiday in Ogun in 2023, following a resolution of the state House of Assembly and the approval of Governor Abiodun.

According to the government, Isese Day gives adherents of Yoruba traditional religion an opportunity to honour their ancestors, observe traditional rites and reflect on the spiritual and cultural values embedded in their practices.

It added that the celebration goes beyond traditional worshippers, providing an opportunity for the wider society to understand, appreciate and respect Yoruba heritage.

The Ogun Government also linked the observance to the importance of traditional institutions and cultural practices in maintaining the identity of the state and strengthening social cohesion.

Residents were urged to celebrate peacefully and responsibly while respecting the beliefs, rights and practices of people from other religious backgrounds.

Oyo Links Isese Day to Cultural Tourism

In Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde felicitated with traditional worshippers in the state and across Nigeria, wishing them a successful and spiritually meaningful Isese Day celebration.

In a memo signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, and conveyed through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fairness and inclusiveness among adherents of different religions.

Makinde also thanked traditional worshippers for their support for his administration over the past seven years.

The state government said the work-free day would give workers and residents the opportunity to participate fully in the celebration, while also using the occasion to pray for peace, unity and stability in Oyo State and Nigeria.

“The work-free day will enable workers and residents to fully participate in the celebration of the state’s cultural heritage and pray for the peace, unity, and stability of the state in particular, and the country in general,” the memo stated.

The Oyo Government further noted that Makinde introduced the Isese Day celebration as part of efforts to recognise adherents of traditional religion and harness the state's rich cultural heritage for economic development.

With its historic cities, traditional institutions, festivals and cultural landmarks, Oyo has increasingly positioned cultural tourism as one of its major economic strengths.

More Than a Religious Celebration

The simultaneous observance of Isese Day in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo highlights a growing effort across the South-West to recognise indigenous traditions as an important component of Nigeria’s cultural identity.

Although the day remains particularly significant to adherents of African Traditional Religion, the three states have increasingly presented it as more than a religious occasion describing it as a celebration of history, identity, culture, traditional institutions and indigenous heritage.

The celebrations also provide an opportunity for younger generations to reconnect with traditions that have been passed down through generations and, in some cases, preserved by Yoruba communities in the African diaspora.

As drums, chants, prayers, rituals and cultural processions take place across the South-West, this year’s Isese Day is expected to combine spirituality with cultural pride, tourism and heritage preservation.

For Lagos, Ogun and Oyo, the message is clear: Isese is not simply a day on the calendar; it is a reminder of a living heritage that continues to shape Yoruba identity in Nigeria and around the world.