National Museum, Ile-Ife

National Museum, Ile-Ife Welcome to the official page of the National Museum, Ile-Ife! Stay updated on our latest:

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A Yoruba farmer selling his Japanese chillies to the Ibadan Co-operative Union, circa 1949.What is the Yoruba word for J...
19/08/2026

A Yoruba farmer selling his Japanese chillies to the Ibadan Co-operative Union, circa 1949.

What is the Yoruba word for Japanese chillies? Science in Yoruba

Source Annual Colonial Report

09/08/2026

🌿 A New Princess Joins Oodua’s Royal Heritage

A new chapter has been added to the enduring story of the Oodua Royal Household!

The National Museum, Ile-Ife, proudly joins the royal family, sons and daughters of Ile-Ife, and admirers of Yoruba heritage in celebrating the arrival of a beautiful new princess into the royal household of His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II.

👑 Introducing:
Omo Oba Obirin Adelewa Adeyele Adeshikemi Ayoade
Omo Ooni Adeyeye Ojaja II

🌿 A New Princess Joins Oodua’s Royal HeritageA new chapter has been added to the enduring story of the Oodua Royal House...
09/08/2026

🌿 A New Princess Joins Oodua’s Royal Heritage

A new chapter has been added to the enduring story of the Oodua Royal Household!

The National Museum, Ile-Ife, proudly joins the royal family, sons and daughters of Ile-Ife, and admirers of Yoruba heritage in celebrating the arrival of a beautiful new princess into the royal household of His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II.

👑 Introducing:
Omo Oba Obirin Adelewa Adeyele Adeshikemi Ayoade
Omo Ooni Adeyeye Ojaja II

09/08/2026

*CELEBRATING A CULTURAL FATHER AND ICON AT 91*

Chief (Dr.) Oyekunle Aremu Alex-Duduyemi
The Aro and Asiwaju of Ile-Ife
Born: 9 August 1935

The Management and Staff of the National Museum, Ile-Ife, warmly celebrate Chief (Dr.) Oyekunle Aremu Alex-Duduyemi, the distinguished Aro and Asiwaju of Ile-Ife, on the occasion of his 91st birthday.

A revered cultural father, custodian of values, and icon of Ile-Ife, Chief (Dr.) Alex-Duduyemi represents a remarkable generation whose wisdom, service and dedication have contributed immensely to the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of Ile-Ife and the Yoruba people.

At 91, we celebrate not only a remarkable milestone, but also a life defined by wisdom, leadership, service, cultural consciousness and commitment to the development of Ile-Ife.

The National Museum, Ile-Ife, honours and appreciates his enduring contributions to the preservation, promotion, and advancement of our rich cultural heritage. His life and legacy remain a source of inspiration to younger generations and a testament to the enduring values of our people.

As you mark this glorious milestone, we wish you continued good health, peace, wisdom, strength and many more fulfilling years.

Happy 91st Birthday, Chief (Dr.) Oyekunle Aremu Alex-Duduyemi!

May your remarkable legacy continue to inspire generations and may your years ahead be filled with grace and fulfilment.

Congratulations, Sir! 🎉🎊

*CELEBRATING A CULTURAL FATHER AND ICON AT 91*Chief (Dr.) Oyekunle Aremu Alex-DuduyemiThe Aro and Asiwaju of Ile-IfeBorn...
09/08/2026

*CELEBRATING A CULTURAL FATHER AND ICON AT 91*

Chief (Dr.) Oyekunle Aremu Alex-Duduyemi
The Aro and Asiwaju of Ile-Ife
Born: 9 August 1935

The Management and Staff of the National Museum, Ile-Ife, warmly celebrate Chief (Dr.) Oyekunle Aremu Alex-Duduyemi, the distinguished Aro and Asiwaju of Ile-Ife, on the occasion of his 91st birthday.

A revered cultural father, custodian of values, and icon of Ile-Ife, Chief (Dr.) Alex-Duduyemi represents a remarkable generation whose wisdom, service and dedication have contributed immensely to the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of Ile-Ife and the Yoruba people.

At 91, we celebrate not only a remarkable milestone, but also a life defined by wisdom, leadership, service, cultural consciousness and commitment to the development of Ile-Ife.

The National Museum, Ile-Ife, honours and appreciates his enduring contributions to the preservation, promotion, and advancement of our rich cultural heritage. His life and legacy remain a source of inspiration to younger generations and a testament to the enduring values of our people.

As you mark this glorious milestone, we wish you continued good health, peace, wisdom, strength and many more fulfilling years.

Happy 91st Birthday, Chief (Dr.) Oyekunle Aremu Alex-Duduyemi!

May your remarkable legacy continue to inspire generations and may your years ahead be filled with grace and fulfilment.

Congratulations, Sir! 🎉🎊

09/08/2026

🌿 Celebrating Oodua’s Royal Heritage

The National Museum, Ile-Ife, proudly celebrates the joyous arrival of a new princess into the royal household of His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II.

The new princess, Omo Oba Obirin Adelewa Adeyele Adeshikemi Ayoade, is a cherished addition to the Ooni’s royal lineage and the enduring heritage of Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba civilisation.

We celebrate this beautiful moment and extend our warmest congratulations to the Oodua Royal Household.

May the new princess grow in good health, wisdom, grace, and prosperity, and may her life be a source of joy and blessings to the royal family and the wider Yoruba community.

Long live His Imperial
Majesty!
Long live the Oodua Royal Household!
Long live Ile-Ife!
Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi - Ojaja II
National Museum, Ile-Ife

🌿 Celebrating Oodua’s Royal HeritageThe National Museum, Ile-Ife, proudly celebrates the joyous arrival of a new princes...
09/08/2026

🌿 Celebrating Oodua’s Royal Heritage

The National Museum, Ile-Ife, proudly celebrates the joyous arrival of a new princess into the royal household of His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi - Ojaja II

The new princess, Omo Oba Obirin Adelewa Adeyele Adeshikemi Ayoade, is a cherished addition to the Ooni’s royal lineage and the enduring heritage of Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba civilisation.

We celebrate this beautiful moment and extend our warmest congratulations to the Oodua Royal Household.

May the new princess grow in good health, wisdom, grace, and prosperity, and may her life be a source of joy and blessings to the royal family and the wider Yoruba community.

Long live His Imperial Majesty!
Long live the Household Oodua !
Long live Ile-Ife!

National Museum, Ile-Ife

08/08/2026

The Arugba Emerges: A Sacred Encounter Between Tradition, Community and Osun

The emergence of the Arugba from the sacred Ọ̀ṣun-Ọ̀ṣogbo Grove marks the culmination of the 2026 festival. Ethnographically, this moment embodies the continuity of Yoruba ritual heritage, where sacred space, ancestral memory, communal identity, and devotion converge.

The Arugba, as a ritual bearer, represents a vital link between the human community and the spiritual world of Ọ̀ṣun, while the procession signifies the successful completion of the annual cycle of supplication, renewal and communal thanksgiving.

The Arugba Emerges: A Sacred Encounter Between Tradition, Community and Osun The emergence of the Arugba from the sacred...
07/08/2026

The Arugba Emerges: A Sacred Encounter Between Tradition, Community and Osun

The emergence of the Arugba from the sacred Ọ̀ṣun-Ọ̀ṣogbo Grove marks the culmination of the 2026 festival. Ethnographically, this moment embodies the continuity of Yoruba ritual heritage, where sacred space, ancestral memory, communal identity, and devotion converge.

The Arugba, as a ritual bearer, represents a vital link between the human community and the spiritual world of Ọ̀ṣun, while the procession signifies the successful completion of the annual cycle of supplication, renewal and communal thanksgiving.

ỌDÚN ÌJẸ̀SÙ (NEW YAM FESTIVAL) 2026 – ILE-IFE3rd August,2026His Imperial Majesty, Ọba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaj...
04/08/2026

ỌDÚN ÌJẸ̀SÙ (NEW YAM FESTIVAL) 2026 – ILE-IFE
3rd August,2026

His Imperial Majesty, Ọba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, is leading the 2026 celebration of Ọdún Ìjẹ̀sù in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, reaffirming the enduring role of the monarchy as both the spiritual and cultural custodian of the Yoruba people.

The celebration brings together distinguished traditional title holders and custodians of indigenous knowledge, including the Lódòkò, Èmèsè, Ògúngbè, Mọdéwá, members of the Ife Traditional Council, the Araba Àgbáyé , Olodu merindilogun and the Ifá priesthood, the Lókòre of Ife, the Ìyálọ́de-in-Council, the Àkírè of Ife, and other revered chiefs.

A defining feature of the festival is the ceremonial act of wọ́òrì—the traditional homage and obeisance paid by the chiefs to the Ooni of Ife. Within the Yoruba political and ritual system, this act is more than a gesture of respect; it is a symbolic reaffirmation of the sacred covenant between the throne, the chiefs, and the people. Their participation reflects the traditional governance structure of the ancient Kingdom of Ife, where every title carries distinct ritual responsibilities and ceremonial obligations transmitted across generations.

One of the most symbolic moments of the festival is the preparation of the first new yam by Bàbá Lọ́wà, who presents the cooked yam to the Ooni. Before the new harvest is consumed by the wider community, the Ooni offers prayers for peace, fertility of the land, abundant harvests, prosperity, and the well-being of the kingdom. This ritual affirms the Yoruba worldview that the first fruits of the earth must be consecrated in thanksgiving before communal consumption.

Earlier in the day, the Lọ́wà Àdìmúlà, accompanied by the 16 Ìjoyè Àpá Òtún (Right Wing Chiefs) and the 16 Ìjoyè Àpá Òsì (Left Wing Chiefs), undertook the customary procession to Ọjà Ejìgbómẹ̀kùn, where the first tubers of the new yam were ceremonially inspected and purchased. This ritualized visit transforms the marketplace into a sacred cultural arena, illustrating the enduring relationship between the palace, commerce, agriculture, and community life.

Ethnographically, Ọdún Ìjẹ̀sù is a living expression of Yoruba intangible cultural heritage. Through sacred ritual, royal protocol, oral tradition, ceremonial hierarchy, music, and communal participation, the festival preserves historical memory while transmitting indigenous knowledge and cultural values from one generation to the next.

In Ile-Ife—the cradle of Yoruba civilization—Ọdún Ìjẹ̀sù remains a profound expression of gratitude, continuity, cultural identity, and the resilience of Yoruba heritage.

Part 7

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Enuwa Square, Beside Ooni Palace
Ile-Ife

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Sunday 10:00 - 17:00

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