Meet Princess Alimot, the 10-Year-Old Arugba Leading the 2026 Osun-Osogbo Festival


 


By Abdulahi Musa


As preparations intensify for the 2026 Osun-Osogbo Festival, attention has shifted to 10-year-old Princess Alimot Moredeke Ajoke Osunbunmi, the young maiden chosen to serve as the new Arugba, one of the most revered figures in the centuries-old Yoruba cultural celebration. 


Princess Alimot, a member of the royal family of the Ataoja of Osogbo, emerged as the new Arugba following a sacred Ifa divination conducted in March 2025. She succeeded Osuntomi Ewatomi, whose tenure came to an end after she got married, in line with the tradition that requires the Arugba to remain an unmarried virgin throughout her service. 


According to Yoruba tradition, the selection of an Arugba is neither by appointment nor election. Instead, the Ifa oracle identifies an eligible maiden from the royal lineage to serve as the spiritual bearer of the Osun deity. The role is regarded as highly sacred, with purity and royal heritage considered essential qualifications. 


At just 10 years old, Princess Alimot is among the youngest girls to assume the revered position in recent history. Because of her age, she did not carry the sacred calabash during the 2025 festival. Instead, the calabash was borne by a male chief priest, Baba Osun (Adesina), while the young Arugba led the ceremonial procession to the Osun Sacred Grove. Traditional custodians explained that the arrangement was made due to the physical demands of carrying the sacred object, expressing confidence that she would assume the responsibility fully when she is older. 


Despite not carrying the calabash, Princess Alimot remained the central figure of the procession, leading worshippers, devotees and visitors to the sacred grove. The Arugba is traditionally believed to serve as the spiritual link between the Osun River goddess and her devotees, symbolically conveying the prayers, sacrifices and hopes of the people during the annual festival. 


The Osun-Osogbo Festival, one of Nigeria's oldest and most celebrated cultural festivals, is held annually at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Osun Sacred Grove in Osogbo, Osun State. The 2026 edition is scheduled to take place from August 7 to August 19, featuring traditional rites, cultural performances, drumming, dancing and the iconic Arugba procession, which attracts thousands of tourists, traditional worshippers and culture enthusiasts from across Nigeria and beyond. 

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