Soun Of Ogbomoso Announces Movement Restriction For Women As Oro Festival Begins

The Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, has declared the commencement of the 2025 Oro Festival, with movement restrictions placed on women within the township during certain hours of the night.

In a statement issued by the Palace Secretary, Mr Toyin Ajamu, the festival is scheduled to run from Friday, 13th June to Friday, 20th June.

As part of traditional observances, women have been directed to stay indoors between the hours of 12 midnight and 4 a.m. throughout the duration of the festival.

The palace warned that any individual found violating the directive, particularly women moving during the restricted period, would be apprehended and handed over to security agencies for appropriate action.

Furthermore, the statement announced a ban on all forms of drumming during the festival, urging residents to maintain order and support the peaceful conduct of the annual traditional rites.

The Oro Festival, which is one of the most revered cultural events in Ogbomoso, typically involves nocturnal rituals believed to purify the land and appease ancestral spirits.