Osun devotees have selected 9-year-old Alimosho Osunbunmi as the new Arugba after the traditional divination process, entrusting her with the revered role in the annual Osun-Osogbo Festival.
As the Arugba, Osunbunmi will lead the sacred procession, carrying a calabash filled with ritual offerings to the Osun River, a key aspect of the centuries-old festival dedicated to the Osun goddess.
The selection follows strict spiritual and cultural guidelines, with the Arugba traditionally being a young virgin of royal lineage, chosen through Ifa divination to serve as a spiritual vessel for the goddess.
Osun devotees believe the Arugba plays a crucial role in securing divine blessings, fertility, and protection for the community.’
The Osun-Osogbo Festival, a UNESCO-listed cultural heritage event, takes place annually in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
It features a series of rituals, including the Iwopopo (traditional town cleansing), Ina Olojumerindinlogun (sacred lamp lighting), and the Iboriade (assembly of past rulers’ crowns).
Osunbunmi’s emergence as the new Arugba signals continuity in the revered tradition, reinforcing the deep spiritual significance of the festival, which has been a cornerstone of Yoruba culture for centuries.
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