the procession of Oduduwa in Oyo

let's go to the river

Once a year, in Oyo, there is a procession to honour Oduduwa. It starts at the Oduduwa shrine on the outskirt of the compound, a low structure with white walls. A blessing ceremony with the kola nut is performed.
Then a young virgin girl emerges from the entrance of the shrine all clad in white, bare-foot, her dark skin decorated with white spots to highlight her purity and wearing on her head a large calabash. The talking drums beat and tell what is happening. She sets-off supported by two elderly ladies also clad in white like the priest who is wearing black-pointed leather moccasins and carrying an iron scepter decorated with birds.

keep going

Everyone walks very fast behind the priest. The procession is going to the river where a kola nut ceremony will take place to listen to the omen that will be then brought back all across town up the palace of the Alaafin.

which piece of news from the river

The girl fainted a number of times but was thankfully supported by the two ladies at the side. A third one was pouring sachet water on her bare feet to keep her going. The procession lasted nearly two hours and as we came closer to the palace the sky darkened increasingly. Rain started to pour, the Alaafin did not come out to hear the news of the river and everyone escaped in the reception hall of the palace to wait for the end of the rain, which continued to fall until the night.

finally entering the palace of the Alaafin

the rain dissuades the Alaafin to come out and hear the news

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