The Oke’badan Festival is one of the many colorful and spectacular festivals celebrated in the city of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State and the third largest city in Africa. The Oke’badan Festival is held every year to celebrate the founding of Ibadan and thank its founders. and to unite the sons and daughters of Ibadan at home and in the diaspora.
The festival is called Oke’badan (Oke Ibadan), meaning “Hill of Ibadan”, and aims to continue the story of the founding of Ibadan on the hill by settlers led by Lagelu in the 18th century. The settlers later descended the hill and found Ibadan near its base. The historical significance of the hill cannot be forgotten, which is why the Oke’badan festival was created to preserve it.The Oke’badan Festival, also known as Ibadan Cultural Festival, is organized every year by the Central Native Council of Ibadan (CCII), the body that oversees the activities of all socio-cultural associations and clubs in ‘Ibadan, which numbers over 187.
The Oke’badan Cultural Festival, celebrated every third Thursday of March, features numerous exciting activities and events such as Ibadan Beauty Pageant, various cultural shows, plays, competitions, Ibadan clean-up, conferences, etc. The people of Ibadan believe that the festival of Oke’badan (Oke Ibadan) protects them from evil and also frees their men and women from impotence and infertility. The
Oke’badan festival at the grounds of Ibadan remains one of the most colorful festivals in Nigeria and West Africa.