World leaders, renowned monarchs, scholars, and cultural icons from Africa and the diaspora are expected to converge on Ile-Ife, Osun State, as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, celebrates his 10th coronation anniversary with an eight-day international cultural festival.
Themed “Ten Years of Aṣé: A Reign of Peace, Culture and Unity,” the landmark celebration will hold from November 30 to December 7, 2025, and will feature a series of events promoting Yoruba heritage, Pan-African solidarity, and socio-economic development.
At a press conference in the Ile-Oodua Palace, Ile-Ife, the Ooni represented by his wife, Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi, and his spokesman, Otunba Moses Olafare described the anniversary as more than a local festivity, but a global gathering to honour Yoruba civilisation and strengthen Africa’s cultural identity.
Members of the anniversary committee, including Chief of Staff of Slowe Ganzi International, Mrs. Bonike Thomas-Ojo, and Mr. Olabisi Awope, said the event will transform Ile-Ife into the epicentre of African heritage and global unity.
Highlights of the week-long programme include the premiere of a cultural film, The Journey to Ife: A Renewal of Culture, a Yoruba Drama, Arts and Film Festival, and a grand carnival showcasing Yoruba unity and traditions. A compendium of Yoruba lineage will also be unveiled, alongside guided tours of shrines dedicated to deities such as Orunmila, Olodumare, and the Orisas.
Other attractions will feature a Yoruba food festival, traditional and modern fashion shows, indigenous sports and games, a royal gala night, and a spectacular fireworks and drone display narrating the history of the Yoruba nation.
Organisers stressed that Ooni Ogunwusi’s reign over the past decade has been marked by peace-building, cultural preservation, and economic empowerment, making the anniversary not just a celebration of his leadership, but of Yoruba heritage and Africa’s enduring cultural pride.
