Written by David Ugbabe
The yearly held Osun-Osogbo festival attracts millions of traditionalists to the sacred place of the Osun goddess. The success of this highly revered event, is largely dependent on the hitch-free walk of the Arugba from the palace to the grove.
A significant aspect of the festival is the role played by a virgin maiden who is often referred to as the “Arugba”. According to the custom, the Arugba is a young virgin of royal descent who leads the procession during the Osun-Osogbo festival to offer sacrifices to the river. The Arugba is believed to help the people communicate with the deity.
Also known as the ‘calabash carrier’, she carries a large calabash on her head containing the sacrifices of the entire community and those offered by the people in attendance. The calabash is believed to have been handed to the ancestors of Osogbo by the Osun goddess who instructed that a royal virgin lady must carry it to the grove on the day of the festival. The arugba carries the calabash on her head underneath a colourful veil. Due to this role, every Arugba has to remain a virgin during her time.
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Usually under the care of an all-female group in an enclave, the Augba meets the previous Arugba. The previous Arugba has the responsibility of placing the sacrifice calabash on the head of the current one who thereafter leaves this enclave to lead the procession. While leading the procession, the arugba must never hit her foot on a stump or stone because it signifies a bad omen for the people, therefore she is guarded to and from the grove by the Olose (i.e. Whip Boys). As she leads the procession to the river, the people, seeing her as a representative of the goddess, cast their problems on her and say prayers.
