A 10-year-old girl has made history at the 2026 Osun-Osogbo Festival after carrying the sacred calabash for the first time during the annual procession to the Osun Sacred Grove in Osogbo, Osun State.
Princess Alimot Moredeke Ajoke Osunbunmi, the current Arugba (calabash bearer), performed the revered traditional duty on Friday, drawing cheers from worshippers, tourists and cultural enthusiasts who gathered for the globally celebrated festival.
Her participation marks a significant milestone in her reign as the Arugba. Although she was chosen for the role in March 2025 through traditional Ifa divination, she did not carry the sacred calabash during the 2025 festival because of her young age.
The Arugba occupies one of the most respected positions in the annual Osun-Osogbo Festival, leading the spiritual procession to the Osun Sacred Grove while carrying the sacred calabash believed to contain ritual offerings dedicated to the Osun deity.
Princess Alimot succeeded Osuntomi Ewatomi, who served as the Arugba for about 12 years before stepping down following her marriage, in line with the tradition attached to the role.
The Osun-Osogbo Festival, recognised by UNESCO as an important cultural heritage celebration, attracts thousands of visitors from within Nigeria and abroad each year, showcasing the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of the Yoruba people.
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