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Sango Festival

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Coordinates: 7°51′31″N 3°55′56″E / 7.8586108°N 3.9321151°E / 7.8586108; 3.9321151
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Sango Festival
StatusActive
GenreFestivals
FrequencyAnnually
VenuePalace of Alaafin of Oyo
Location(s)Oyo State
Coordinates7°51′31″N 3°55′56″E / 7.8586108°N 3.9321151°E / 7.8586108; 3.9321151
CountryNigeria
Years active1000 BC–present
FounderSango
Most recentAugust 2014 (2014-08)
Participants20,000
AreaNigeria, Afro-Caribbean, Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Portugal, Cameroun
Organised byPeople of Oyo State

Sango Festival is an annual festival held among the Yoruba people in honour of Sango, a thunder and fire deity who was a warrior and the third king of the Oyo Empire after succeeding Ajaka his elder brother.[1] Renamed in 2013 to World Sango Festival by the government of Oyo State, the festival is usually held in August at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo and also observed in over forty countries around the world.[2]

History

See also: Shango

The Sango Festival celebrations can be traced back to 1,000 years ago following the departure of Sango, a popular Yoruba Òrìşà who is widely regarded as the founding father of present-day Oyo State.[3]

Sango was a notable strong ruler and magician who became king of the Oyo Empire after succeeding his elder brother who was perceived to be a "weak ruler".[4] Believed to bring prosperity to the people of the Oyo Empire during his reign, Sango's death has been linked to different mythical stories. It is believed that Sango committed suicide by hanging himself in order to avoid humiliation from one of his powerful chiefs who ordered Sango to vacate his throne or face war.[5]

Significance

Since its renaming in 2013, the event which is usually held in August and runs for a week attracts over 20,000 spectators around the world including Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.[6] The event which is recognized by UNESCO, is organized to facilitate the home-coming of the Yorubas in the diaspora and also celebrate Sango who is regarded as the greatest hero in the history of the Yoruba race.[7]

See also

Further reading

  • Karin Barber (1993). I Could Speak Until Tomorrow: Oriki, Women, and the Past in a Yoruba Town. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-7486-0287-2.
  • Ayobunmi Sosi Sangode (H.L. Iyalosa.) (1996). The Cult of Sango: The Study of Fire : an Anthology. Athelia Henrietta Press. ISBN 978-0-9638787-4-8.
  • Rosalind I. J. Hackett (1996). Art and religion in Africa. Cassell P L C. ISBN 978-0-304-33752-1.

References

  1. ^ Oluseye Ojo (2 October 2014). "Magic, thunder as tourists storm Oyo for Sango festival". The Sun. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  2. ^ "2 Day World Sango Festival". Afro Tourism. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  3. ^ "FG To Support Sango Festival". Osun Defender. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  4. ^ Ajaka
  5. ^ Samuel Johnson; Johnson; Obadiah Johnson (30 September 2010). The History of the Yorubas: From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the British Protectorate. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-02099-2.
  6. ^ "Foreigners thrill audience at World Sango Festival". The Nation. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  7. ^ "The world hails Sango festival". The Nation. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
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