The ancient city of Ile-Ife, the spiritual heartland of the Yoruba people, is aglow with cultural pride and spiritual reverence as the 2025 edition of the World Ifa Festival officially commenced on Sunday, June 1, 2025.
The week-long festival, which draws adherents, scholars, tourists, and dignitaries from across Nigeria and the international community, celebrates the enduring wisdom, spirituality, and global relevance of the Ifa tradition.
Day One: Iwole Ojugbona (Sunday, June 1)
The festival began with Iwole Ojugbona, a sacred traditional rite that spans the entire day and night. The ceremony marks the spiritual opening of the festival and honors the ancestral deities that guide the Ifa cosmology.
Day Two: Aisun Odun Ifa Oloja / Egbo Do Ooni (Monday, June 2)
International Press Conference (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM) at the Ooni's Palace, where the global significance of Ifa and its place in contemporary discourse were highlighted.
Plucking of Ewe Ifa (5:00 PM – 6:00 PM), an essential botanical rite associated with divination.
Aisun Odun Ifa Oloja (6:00 PM – 6:00 AM), an all-night spiritual vigil at the Ooni’s Palace honoring the Ifa Oloja.
Day Three: Bibo Ifa Oloja (Tuesday, June 3)
Idaja/Ifa Pipe (8:00 AM – 10:00 AM) at the Oke Itase Temple, the traditional hub of Ifa worship.
Procession to the Ooni’s Palace followed, showcasing colorful attire, sacred chants, and ritual objects.
The day concluded with the Bibo Ifa Oloja ceremony (11:00 AM – 2:00 PM).
Day Four: Bibo Orisha I / Ifa Àgbáyé Competition (Wednesday, June 4)
From 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, the festival witnessed the Bibo Orisha I, featuring sacred offerings to deities such as Èṣù, Ogun, Oranfe, and Obàtálá.
The day culminated in an overnight Ifa Competition (7:00 PM – 6:00 AM) at Ife Grand Resorts, drawing participants from across the globe.
Day Five: Bibo Orisha II / Ifa Àgbáyé Competition (Thursday, June 5)
The Ifa competition resumed overnight (12:00 AM – 6:00 AM).
Bibo Orisha II rituals followed throughout the day (10:00 AM – 6:00 PM), honoring Ajé, Olókun, Òṣun, and Osara, with vibrant cultural displays and deep spiritual exercises.
Day Six: Ifa Lecture, Carnival, and Global Ifa Rites (Friday, June 6)
Ifa Lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University (9:00 AM – 2:00 PM) will explore the philosophy, science, and future of Ifa in the modern world.
A series of spiritual rites follow, including:
Bibo Ope Ifa Àgbáyé (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM) at the Oke Itase Temple.
Road Walk to Oke Igeti (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM).
Ida Ewe Ifa Àgbáyé (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM).
Wiwe Ifa Àgbáyé (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM).
Bibo Ifa Àgbáyé (8:00 PM – 11:00 PM).
Day Seven: Grand Finale (Saturday, June 7)
The Grand Finale of the 2025 World Ifa Festival on Saturday was a majestic culmination of a spiritually rich and culturally vibrant week. The day began with an Open-Air Service at Enuwa Square (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM), where traditional worshippers, cultural enthusiasts, and international guests gathered for prayers, songs, and thanksgiving.
This was followed by a Visitation to Shrines and Sacred Groves across Ile-Ife and its environs (12:00 PM – 3:00 PM), reconnecting participants with revered spiritual sites deeply rooted in Yoruba cosmology.
A symbolic Procession from Oke Itase to the Ooni’s Palace (4:00 PM – 4:30 PM) featured high chiefs, Ifa priests, and cultural troupes in colorful regalia. Shortly after, the Gbigba Orire Ifa (Reception of Ifa Blessings) was held at the Ooni’s Palace (4:30 PM – 7:00 PM), signifying the spiritual harvesting of the festival’s prayers and rites.
After a brief evening recess, the Ooni of Ife paid a ceremonial Visit to the Oke Itase Temple (9:00 PM – 10:00 PM), reaffirming royal patronage of the global Ifa community.
The night continued with an Ifa Prayer Session (Iwure Ifa) and Cultural Interlude (11:00 PM – 12:00 AM), leading into the Dida Ifa Odun Àgbáyé — the official closing divination rite of the festival — accompanied by traditional music, dance, and storytelling throughout the night (12:00 AM – 6:00 AM, Sunday).
Day Eight: Departure & Praise Worship (Sunday, June 8)
The final day marked a reflective conclusion to the festival with a Festival Briefing and Reports to the Ooni of Ife (7:00 AM – 9:00 AM), where community leaders, organizers, and dignitaries shared outcomes and feedback.
This was followed by a Praise Worship Session (9:00 AM – 10:00 AM) at the Ooni’s Palace, blending gratitude with celebration as participants began their departure from the sacred city.
Festival Significance
The World Ifa Festival, annually held in Ile-Ife under the auspices of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, is a unifying event for Yoruba spiritual heritage and cultural diplomacy.
It is not only a time for ritual observance but also a global platform for intercultural exchange, spiritual reflection, and scholarly engagement.
Participants from Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe are expected to continue arriving throughout the week as the festivities build toward the grand finale.
The blend of ancient rites, intellectual discourse, and modern celebration makes the 2025 edition one of the most anticipated in recent history.