Lagos, Ogun, Oyo Declare Thursday Work-Free for Isese Day
The Lagos, Ogun and Oyo State governments have declared Thursday, August 20, work-free to mark this year’s Isese Day, describing the annual celebration as an important expression of Yoruba culture, traditional religion and indigenous heritage.
The declaration means public servants and other residents across the three South-West states will observe the day as a work-free holiday, as traditional worshippers participate in prayers, rituals, processions and other cultural activities.
In Lagos, the government said over three million people were expected to take part in the celebration, which it described as potentially the world’s largest single gathering of African Traditional Religion faithful.
The state’s Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, announced the work-free day in a statement on Wednesday, stressing that the celebration should not be regarded simply as another public holiday.
“Isese is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” Aregbe said.
He noted that the Yoruba, estimated to number more than 55 million globally, had successfully preserved their cultural practices across generations and beyond Nigeria.
According to Aregbe, the continued practice of Yoruba traditional religion in places such as Cuba, Brazil and the Caribbean demonstrates the global influence of the culture.
“When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” he said.
The Lagos government said the celebration would bring to a close a week-long programme of traditional activities. It added that Isese Day has been observed as a work-free day in the state since 2023, following a request from the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
It said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had continued the annual observance as part of his administration’s commitment to indigenous values and religious inclusiveness under the THEMES+ agenda.
Aregbe commended Sanwo-Olu for supporting the celebration while also recognising the contributions of traditional rulers and custodians of Yoruba religious practices.
“We thank His Excellency, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. It takes real conviction for a leader to stand publicly with heritage, and he has done so without hesitation and without apology,” he said.
He also acknowledged the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, traditional rulers, White Cap Chiefs, Babalawo, Iyanifa, Olooriṣa and other custodians of Yoruba heritage.
“Governments come and go. Custodians carry the culture,” Aregbe said.
This year’s Lagos programme is expected to feature prayers, rituals, processions, drumming and cultural displays dedicated to the Orisa, with activities coordinated by the Association of African Traditional Religion Nigeria and Overseas.
Aregbe called on participants to celebrate peacefully and show respect for people of other faiths.
“Three million voices rising in honour of tradition is not noise. It is history, faith and cultural pride in harmony. Whether you worship in a mosque, a church or a grove, Isese Day belongs to you, because heritage has no denomination. Lagos remains the city where every heritage finds its place,” he said.
Ogun
The Ogun State Government said its decision to declare August 20 work-free was aimed at preserving and promoting Yoruba culture, heritage and traditional values.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, and released to journalists on Wednesday.
The government recalled that August 20 was officially declared a public holiday in the state in 2023 following a resolution by the Ogun State House of Assembly and the governor’s approval.
It said Isese Day gives traditional worshippers an opportunity to honour their ancestors, perform traditional rites and promote the values associated with their spiritual and cultural practices.
“Isese Day provides an opportunity for adherents of the Yoruba traditional religion to honour their ancestors, observe traditional rites and promote the values and teachings embedded in their spiritual and cultural practices,” the statement said.
The government added that the celebration also allows the wider public to better understand and appreciate Yoruba heritage.
“The celebration also promotes a sense of community among practitioners, while providing an opportunity for the wider society to appreciate and respect the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people,” the government said.
According to the state, the observance reflects the administration’s recognition of the importance of culture and traditional institutions in preserving Ogun’s identity and promoting social cohesion.
Residents were urged to celebrate responsibly and peacefully while respecting the beliefs, rights and practices of others.
Oyo
In Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde congratulated traditional worshippers across the state and beyond as they prepare to mark Isese Day.
In a memo signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Musibau Babatunde, and conveyed in a statement by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Makinde wished adherents of African Traditional Religion a successful and spiritually enriching celebration.
The governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fairness among followers of different religions and expressed appreciation to traditional worshippers for their support over the past seven years.
The memo said the work-free day would give workers and residents the opportunity to participate fully in the celebration and offer prayers for the state and the country.
“The work-free day will enable workers and residents to fully participate in the celebration of the state’s cultural heritage and pray for the peace, unity, and stability of the state in particular, and the country in general,” it said.
The Oyo government said Makinde introduced the Isese Day celebration as part of efforts to recognise traditional religion practitioners and utilise the state’s cultural heritage for economic development.
It described cultural tourism as one of the state’s major strengths and said the celebration forms part of broader efforts to turn Oyo’s traditional heritage into an avenue for economic growth.
The decision by Lagos, Ogun and Oyo to simultaneously declare Isese Day work-free reflects a growing trend across the South-West to formally recognise the celebration. The three states have presented the occasion not only as a religious event but also as a celebration of Yoruba cultural identity, tradition and heritage.