Ojude Oba 2025: Culture Meets Chaos Amid Stampede And Infrastructural Concerns

The 2025 Ojude Oba Festival brought together culture, fashion, and tradition in Ijebu Ode, drawing thousands of visitors across Nigeria and beyond. The celebration was disrupted by a stampede that left several injured, exposing ongoing issues with crowd control, poor planning, and Ogun State’s worsening infrastructure.

The annual festival, traditionally held two days after Eid al-Adha, drew tens of thousands of attendees, including tourists, dignitaries, and culture enthusiasts. What began as a celebration of Yoruba heritage and Ijebu identity, however, descended into a bit of confusion as inadequate crowd control measures led to a stampede that left several people injured and many others traumatised.

Personally, I can talk about so many things that went wrong with Ojude Oba yesterday. Even me, I don’t think I have the energy for it again. I got pushed and fell. Passed out. Got pushed into hot oil, waiting for puff puff. Even 3 of my DSS men passed out. New notes got stolen from me with all the security. The network was horrible, too. Yet i still had to ride to give a show, X user Prince Adedoyin tweeted about his experience at the festival.

Eyewitness accounts confirm that the overcrowded Ojude Oba Arcade – the main venue near the Awujale’s palace, was stretched far beyond capacity. Heat, exhaustion, and lack of proper exits compounded the risks.

The glamour of the festival alone cannot cover the deep-rooted issues threatening the event’s future. One of the most pressing is Ogun State’s failing road network. For a state that basks in the beauty of having the most talked about festival in Nigeria, it has the worst road networks in Southwestern Nigeria. This stifles foreign visitors to the festival.

Despite the tragedy, the festival was still a visual spectacle. Traditional age-grade groups known as Regberegbe dazzled onlookers in coordinated attire. Riders on elaborately adorned horses representing noble families showcased Yoruba opulence and pageantry. Drummers, dancers, and fashionistas contributed to the rich cultural tapestry that makes Ojude Oba a global attraction and a candidate for UNESCO heritage status.

Farooq Oreagba, also known as King of Steeze, who got the name from his outlandish and remarkable outlook at the 2024 Ojude Oba festival, stated in an interview with Bella Naija that his son intends to come back home just for Ojude Oba.

My son, who never wanted to come to Nigeria, now wants to visit this December to ride a horse just because of the Ojude Oba festival, he said. It is a pointer to the power culture and identity wields.

As Ojude Oba’s visibility grows through global media and viral fashion moments, such as Farouq Oreagba’s iconic look in 2024, expectations for excellence have also risen. Unfortunately, this year’s edition only reinforced concerns that the festival’s planning has not kept pace with its popularity.

While the beauty and cultural pride of Ojude Oba remain undeniable, stakeholders now face mounting pressure to address safety, infrastructure, and organisation if the festival is to meet international standards in the future.

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