Southwestern Nigerian states declare Aug. 20 workfree for Isese Day

The governments of Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states in southwestern Nigeria declared Thursday, August 20, a workfree day to commemorate the 2026 Isese Day, an annual celebration of Yoruba culture, traditional religion, and indigenous heritage. The declaration allowed public servants and residents across the three states to observe the day as a holiday while traditional worshippers gathered for prayers, rituals, processions, and cultural activities.

In Lagos, officials projected that more than three million people would participate, potentially making it the largest single gathering of African Traditional Religion faithfuls worldwide. Idris Aregbe, the Special Adviser to the Lagos Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, announced the holiday on Wednesday, August 19, framing the celebration as central to global Yoruba heritage. He stated that the Yoruba people, estimated at more than 55 million globally, have preserved their culture across generations and beyond Nigeria, with traditions sustained in countries like Cuba, Brazil, and the Caribbean.

The 2026 celebration in Lagos marks the culmination of a weeklong programme of traditional activities coordinated by the Association of...