Long before the drums rolled and dancers took the stage, something deeper had already begun in Ogbomoso—a return. Roads grew busy, long-shut homes reopened, hotels filled up and familiar faces resurfaced as sons and daughters of the ancient town journeyed home for the second edition of the Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival 2025.
For five days, Ogbomoso was more than a host city; it became a meeting point of memory, identity and opportunity. Over 100 indigenous socio-cultural associations from across Nigeria and the diaspora converged at the Soun Ogunlola Township Stadium, clad in radiant traditional attire, to pay homage to the Soun of Ogbomosoland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III. The parades were not merely ceremonial—they were bold affirmations of belonging.
The carnival opened on Thursday, December 19, with cultural rites, exhibitions of local cuisine, masquerades and pulsating traditional drumming. Spiritual reflections led by the Araba of Osogbo, Chief Yemi Elebuibon, set a contemplative tone, as he praised the resurgence of Yoruba cultural consciousness and commended the monarch’s role in restoring pride in indigenous heritage.
One of the most symbolic moments of reconnection came through sports. A United States–based indigene, Adebayo Majolagbe, returned home to coordinate a 170-kilometre Grand Fondo cycling tour from Ogbomoso to Iseyin and back, leading over 100 cyclists across familiar landscapes now reimagined as tourism routes. The Ogbomoso Marathon, held on Saturday, further reinforced themes of endurance, return and collective purpose.
Across the city, the carnival rewired daily life. Markets stayed vibrant, hotels recorded full occupancy, transport operators extended routes and operating hours, while food vendors, artisans and entertainers enjoyed increased patronage. Culture, in this moment, became currency—circulating directly into the local economy.
Traditional games, golf tournaments and youth-focused activities blended seamlessly with royal ceremonies. The celebration of Odun Oole Oba, uniting the five ruling houses, and the installation of new chiefs—including Dr. Saka Balogun as Balogun of Ogbomosoland and Professor Adesola Adepoju as Asiwaju of Ogbomosoland—drew dignitaries and returnees to the palace, reconnecting governance, tradition and community.
The emotional peak arrived on Ajilete Day, when Ogbomoso burst into dance, music and performance, featuring the Oyo State Cultural Troupe alongside contemporary entertainers. Streets transformed into communal spaces of laughter, rhythm and shared pride.
Political and community leaders echoed the prevailing mood. Senator Buhari Abdulfatai described the carnival as a living expression of unity and cultural confidence, while Professor Adepoju noted that many indigenes who had stayed away for years were returning home, emotionally stirred by the scale and organisation of the event.
In its second year, the Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival achieved something rare—it made culture personal again, turning roads into routes of return, festivals into family reunions and heritage into a living, breathing economy.
Explaining the philosophy behind the name “Cradles,” Oba Ghandi offered deep insight during his address at the grand finale held on Monday at the township stadium. According to the monarch, the term underscores Ogbomoso’s identity as a source of art, music, values, bravery, enterprise and creativity—elements that continually birth greatness.
“This carnival reminds us that we are more than a city. We are a cradle of greatness,” the monarch declared. “A cradle of music, art, dance, innovation, enterprise, values, dreams and limitless potential. From these cradles, greatness was born, and from these same cradles, greatness shall rise again.”
He described the carnival as both a celebration and a movement—one capable of triggering a cultural and economic renaissance in Ogbomoso. Recalling the sacrifices of the town’s forebears, the monarch challenged the present generation to do even more with the opportunities available today.
“Our forefathers built with less. If they stood tall against challenges, shall we bow to ours?” he asked rhetorically. “Ogbomoso will not rise because we wish it. Ogbomoso will rise because we rise.”
Oba Ghandi emphasised unity, hard work and collective responsibility as the only pathways to rediscovering Ogbomoso’s greatness, urging youths, professionals, traders, artisans and farmers alike to see themselves as builders of a new era. He called on sons and daughters of Ogbomoso in Lagos, Abuja, Accra, London, Houston and beyond to return home, invest and support cultural initiatives.
“When we stand together, we are Ogbomoso—a name that carries honour wherever it is spoken,” he said, describing the carnival as a call to transform heritage into prosperity.
Corroborating the monarch’s vision, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Hon. Olusegun Dokun Odebunmi, affirmed that the carnival has already begun triggering socio-economic development in the city.
“Without doubt, this festival has brought immense benefits to Ogbomosoland. Our streets, markets, hotels, artisans, transporters and entertainers have all felt the impact,” he said, adding that the carnival now serves as a platform attracting visitors, investors and global attention to Ogbomoso and Oyo State.
Odebunmi urged investors to explore the town’s vast agricultural and tourism potential, highlighting crops such as mango, cashew and cocoa, and expressing aspirations for an agro-allied industrial revolution that would process raw materials locally.
Speaking on the wider impact of the festival, the Asiwaju of Ogbomosoland, Professor Adesola Adepoju, described the Cradles Carnival as a powerful catalyst for reconnection and renewal. He noted that the event had succeeded in drawing back many sons and daughters of Ogbomoso who had been away from home for years, reconnecting them emotionally and culturally with their roots.
According to him, the scale of participation witnessed during the second edition was unprecedented, stressing that the growing interest now calls for an expansion of facilities and venues ahead of future editions. Professor Adepoju observed that beyond cultural celebration, the carnival has opened new economic windows, creating opportunities for trade, tourism and investment, while reinforcing a renewed sense of unity and pride among Ogbomoso indigenes worldwide.
Also speaking, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, observed that the carnival has grown rapidly from a local celebration into an event of national and global relevance. Similarly, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, commended the monarch and planning committee, reiterating the state government’s support for cultural initiatives capable of driving economic growth.
For many returnees, the carnival was not just an event but an awakening. And as the final drums faded and the crowds dispersed, one message lingered unmistakably in the air: Ogbomoso is rising again—carried on the shoulders of culture, unity and a people rediscovering the power of coming home.
