The Iwude Ijesa Planning Committee has unveiled the programme of activities for the 2026 Iwude Ijesa Festival, with the grand civic reception and Iwude Ijesa Unity Carnival scheduled for Sunday, December 20, at the Ilesa Grammar School Sports Complex, Ilesa, Osun State.
The programme was reviewed at the fourth Iwude Ijesa Unity Carnival 2026 Logistics Committee meeting held on Tuesday, October 20, at the Iwude Ijesa Secretariat, Adimula Palace Square, Okemese, Ilesa.
The meeting, which commenced at 12:00noon, was chaired by Chief Afolabi Igbaroola, Chairman of the Iwude Ijesa Planning Committee. Representatives of about 50 Ijesa societies, popularly known as Elegbejegbes, participated in the meeting, which focused on preparations for the festival, coordination of activities and the promotion of unity among Ijesa people.
In his opening remarks, Chief Igbaroola emphasised unity as a central purpose of the gathering before reading out the programme of events for the 2026 celebration.
Religious, Cultural and Sporting Activities
The festival will begin with a special Jumat service on Friday, December 11, at 1:00 p.m. at Osu Central Mosque, Osu. Members of the Planning Committee and representatives of the Elegbejegbes are expected to attend.
A special church service will follow on Sunday, December 13, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Matthew's Cathedral Church, Ijebu-Jesa.
On Thursday, December 17, the Ayo Game and Iyan Competition will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Iwude Ijesa Secretariat, Adimula Palace Square.
The football final is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on the same day, while the Praise Night will commence at 6:00 p.m. at Kings Mega Event Centre, Ayeso, and continue until dawn. Olori Iwayemi Haastrup will coordinate the programme.
Cultural Heritage Day and Beauty Pageant
The Cultural Heritage Day and Beauty Pageant will hold on Friday, December 18, at noon at the Oba Adekunle Aromolaran Civic Centre, Ilesa.
His Imperial Majesty, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III, Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, will attend as the Special Royal Guest of Honour.
Other traditional rulers, high chiefs and chiefs are expected at the event, which will be coordinated by members of the Cultural Heritage Day Subcommittee.
The programme is designed to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Ijesaland while providing an opportunity for the people to celebrate their history, traditions and identity.
Owa's Royal Visit: Elegbejegbes to Join Royal Convoy
On Saturday, December 19, the Owa Obokun Adimula is scheduled to undertake a royal visit to chieftaincy courtyards, known as Akodi, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
All members of the registered Elegbejegbes have been mandated to participate in the royal convoy, underscoring the importance of their involvement in the traditional activities of the festival.
Unity Carnival: Societies to Showcase Development Projects
The celebrations will culminate on Sunday, December 20, with the grand civic reception and Iwude Ijesa Unity Carnival at the Ilesa Grammar School Sports Complex, beginning at noon.
The event is expected to bring together Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ijesa traditional rulers, chiefs, societies, clubs and sons and daughters of Ijesaland at home and in the Diaspora.
Beyond the cultural displays and colourful parade, the Unity Carnival is increasingly serving as a platform for mobilising community development across Ijesaland.
The expanded two-day format was introduced in 2024 through the initiative of the Iwude Ijesa Planning Committee under Chief Afolabi Igbaroola and its Vice Chairman, Alagba Wale Idowu. The initiative added the Sunday Unity Carnival to the traditional Saturday Iwude celebration, broadening opportunities for participation and engagement among Ijesa people.
The 2026 carnival will further reinforce the development-focused gathering, with awards planned for Elegbejegbes that have executed outstanding community projects. The awards are intended to recognise societies whose contributions demonstrate how cultural unity can be translated into practical benefits for the people.
The approach encourages participating groups to contribute according to their capacity and the needs of their communities, including interventions in education, healthcare, water provision, infrastructure and other areas of local development.
A Festival Anchored on Unity and Development
The participation of representatives from about 50 Elegbejegbes at the logistics meeting reflects the broad involvement of Ijesa societies in preparations for the forthcoming celebration.
Under the leadership of Chief Igbaroola and Alagba Wale Idowu, the Planning Committee continues to coordinate the expanded festival programme while encouraging societies to make their participation meaningful beyond the celebration itself.
The complementary roles of the Planning Committee and the Ijesaland development challenge have helped give the Unity Carnival a broader purpose as the meeting charged participating societies to turn their collective strength into community development.
With religious services, sporting competitions, cultural displays, a beauty pageant, a royal visit and the grand Unity Carnival scheduled, the 2026 Iwude Ijesa Festival promises a programme that combines tradition, cultural pride and collective responsibility.
Ultimately, the celebration seeks to strengthen the bonds among Ijesa people while encouraging their societies and associations to contribute to the sustainable development of Ijesaland.
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