The 2025 Okota Festival brought together traditional rulers, cultural custodians and hundreds of attendees under the warm July skies of Arigidi Akoko in Ondo State. The event, a colourful celebration of Yoruba heritage, also doubled as a rallying call for greater government investment in culture as a driver of tourism and economic growth.
Organised by the Olokun Festival Foundation under the leadership of the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, the festival drew endorsements from notable monarchs, including Oba Victor Adetona, chairman of the Akoko Northwest Council of Obas, and Oba Yisa Olanipekun, the Zaki of Arigidi Akoko. They urged South-West governments to harness the region’s rich cultural assets for economic development.
Iba Gani Adams stressed that promoting culture goes beyond preserving traditions. He called on the Ondo State Government to elevate the Okota Festival to national status, similar to the UNESCO-listed Osun Osogbo Festival. He noted that the Okota River has the potential to become a globally recognised cultural and spiritual destination with proper exposure and support.
The monarchs echoed the call for sustained government funding. Oba Adetona revealed that he had reintroduced a cultural festival in his kingdom, but said such initiatives could not thrive without regular state support. He urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Adesoji Afolabi to provide consistent financial and structural assistance.
Speakers highlighted the economic benefits of developing under-promoted Yoruba heritage sites, emphasising job creation, infrastructure expansion, and tourism opportunities. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, aligned with Adams’ view that heritage preservation can also drive economic prosperity.
Festival activities featured vibrant masquerade parades, traditional drumming, oral storytelling, healing practices and artisan exhibitions. Tourists and locals sampled Yoruba dishes as elders recounted the spiritual significance of the Okota River. Organisers reported that guesthouses were fully booked and vendors enjoyed brisk sales, showcasing the festival’s immediate economic impact.
Cultural stakeholders proposed a roadmap for expanding heritage tourism. Recommendations included listing the Okota Festival on state and national cultural calendars with dedicated funding, building tourist infrastructure, training local cultural entrepreneurs and engaging the African diaspora through Nigerian missions abroad.
Festival chairman Ogunbi Abiodun expressed pride in the success of this year’s edition and pledged to finance the next one while rallying stakeholders to sustain the gains. “Let us not wait for others to invest in our culture. We must believe in it first,” he said.
For many in attendance, the event was more than entertainment. “This is who we are. I will never forget this,” one visitor said.
As the evening drums faded, the call for cultural investment resonated more strongly than ever. Leaders believe that with political will, collaboration and faith in the culture’s value, festivals like Okota can strengthen local economies, preserve heritage and position Nigeria as a hub for cultural tourism in Africa.
5
