Sacred Nigerian river puts devotees into trance at Osogbo festival
The Osun-Osogbo Festival, a prominent cultural and spiritual celebration in Nigeria, attracted worshippers from across the country and beyond.
For many, who have trooped to the sacred Osun River in Osogbo, Osun State, the festival is not just tradition, it is a deeply personal act of faith.
Omidunsin Egbedunni, an Osun priestess, described the goddess as a life-transforming force.
“Osun-Osogbo is such a good goddess. She takes care of people. If you come to her asking for wealth and children, she grants your request,” she told Viory.
Egbedunni recounted abandoning years of practising Christianity and Islam to embrace the Osun deity, which she credits with transforming her life and family.
During the festival, some attendees experience spiritual trances, believed to be a direct manifestation of the goddess’s presence.
“The water goddess, Osun, usually makes some people go into trance… they become restless and start uttering unsolicited warnings and advice,” Egbedunni explained.
Visitors bring offerings of food, fruits, and other items to honour the goddess. Oyinbukola Abeni-Ade, who travelled from Lagos for the event, likened Osun to a mother.
“Anyone here who sincerely comes to offer sacrifices to the Osun goddess must surely be hugely rewarded,” she said, noting that the festival’s appeal draws both Nigerians and foreign visitors year after year.
The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, where the festival takes place, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Declared a Nigerian National Monument in 1965 and expanded in 1992, it remains an active place of worship with daily, weekly, and monthly ceremonies.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
