PICTORIAL: Culture takes centre stage at Ibadan masquerade festival

Thousands of people gathered on Saturday at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, popularly known as Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, Oyo State, for the grand finale of the third annual World Egungun Festival, a colourful celebration of Yoruba ancestral heritage.

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The event featured more than 150 masquerade performances and 120 cultural groups, attracting over 18,000 participants as well as international guests.

The two-day festival began on May 1 with a symposium on cultural sustainability held at the secretariat in Ibadan before ending with a vibrant showcase of traditional music, dance and elaborate costumes at the stadium.

A new cultural anthem was also unveiled as part of efforts to strengthen the preservation of traditional values.

The festival, supported by the Oyo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Adayeba Culture Tourism Foundation, is aimed at promoting Yoruba heritage, boosting local tourism and improving the state’s economy.

International diplomats and cultural stakeholders attended the event, highlighting the global appeal of the Egungun tradition, which honours ancestral spirits.

Organisers described the rising participation as evidence of renewed interest in cultural identity among Yoruba youth and diaspora communities.

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