Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State and the third-largest city in Africa, is home to a number of vibrant and glamorous festivals, one of which is the Oke’badan festival. The Oke’badan festival is held every year to honor Ibadan’s founders and celebrate their achievements; as well as to unite Ibadan’s children both at home and in the diaspora.
The festival is called Oke’badan (Oke Ibadan), which means “hill of Ibadan,” to commemorate the 18th-century settlers led by Lagelu who established Ibadan on a hill. Ibadan was located near the hill’s base when the settlers later descended it. Because of the hill’s historical significance, the Oke’badan festival was established to preserve it. The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), a body that oversees the activities of all socio-cultural societies or clubs in Ibadan that number more than 187 members, organizes the Oke’badan festival, which is also known as the Ibadan Cultural Festival.
The Oke’badan cultural festival, which takes place on the third Thursday of March, features a variety of thrilling activities and events, including the Ibadan beauty pageant, various cultural displays, stage plays, competitions, the operation to clean Ibadan, conferences, and other similar activities. Ibadanans believe that the Oke’badan (Oke Ibadan) festival saves them from evil and keeps men and women from becoming sterile.
One of the most colorful festivals in Nigeria and West Africa is still the Oke’badan festival in Ibadan land.
