Osogbo is the capital of Osun State and sits on the Osun River, named after the Yoruba river goddess Osun. The town is led by its traditional ruler, the Ataoja of Osogbo.
Osogbo is best known for the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a forest shrine listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, and for the annual festival that draws worshippers and visitors from around the world. Since the 1960s the town has also been a centre for Nigerian modern art.
Top things to do in Osogbo
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Walk through the Sacred Grove
The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove is one of the last areas of dense primary forest in southern Nigeria. Paths lead along the river past shrines, sanctuaries and large sculptures made by artists who worked to protect the grove. Guided visits explain the meaning of each site.
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Attend the Osun-Osogbo Festival
The festival is held every August and runs over about two weeks. Its final day sees a procession to the river led by the Arugba, a young woman carrying the sacred calabash, with drumming, singing and crowds dressed in white and yellow.
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See Osogbo art
Workshops held in Osogbo in the 1960s launched a generation of painters, sculptors and printmakers. Galleries and studios across the town still show and sell paintings, carvings, beadwork and batik.
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Learn batik and adire
Several workshops in Osogbo teach visitors to make batik and adire, using wax and indigo to create patterned cloth. Short sessions are a hands-on way to take home something you made yourself.
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Visit the palace and Oja Oba
The Ataoja's palace stands in the town centre, facing the busy Oja Oba (king's market), where traders sell food, fabrics, beads and traditional medicine.
Festivals and culture
The Osun-Osogbo Festival in August is the town's defining event and one of the best-known traditional festivals in Africa. Osogbo also holds art exhibitions, cultural shows and end-of-year celebrations, and its galleries host events during the festival period.
Food to try
Try pounded yam with egusi or efo riro, amala with ewedu and gbegiri, ewa aganyin, and fresh fish from the river. Snacks such as akara, puff-puff and roasted plantain are sold all over town.
Best time to visit
August, for the Osun-Osogbo Festival, although it falls in the rainy season, so bring an umbrella. For drier weather, visit between November and March.
Getting around
Taxis, tricycles and motorcycle taxis cover the town, and the grove is a short ride from the centre. Osogbo is about 90 km north-east of Ibadan by road.
Questions about Osogbo
When is the Osun-Osogbo Festival?
Every August. The celebrations last about two weeks and end with a grand procession to the Osun River.
Is the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove a World Heritage Site?
Yes. UNESCO listed the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove as a World Heritage Site in 2005.
Can visitors enter the Sacred Grove?
Yes. The grove is open to visitors, and guided tours are available. Some shrines are restricted, so follow your guide's directions.
How do I find events in Osogbo?
Browse upcoming festivals, concerts, exhibitions and free events in Osogbo on Shows.ng, and filter by today, this weekend or this month.
