Important Dates

2nd week of January: VOODOO / ORISA FESTIVAL

February OLOKUN festival: Orisha of the deep sea [Nature] and protector of the African soul

March New year festival. Celebrations of the Orisha of the Earth. Onset of the Yoruba NEW YEAR

March OSHOSI festival.

Veneration of the Orisha of Adventure, patron of hunters Also annual rites of passage for men

April OGUN festival. Veneration of the Orisha of War, patron of metal crafts [Engineering / Military]

Last Saturday of April, OSHUN festival. Celebrations of the Orisha of love. Onset of Spring and the wet season.

Last Saturday of May, for seven days EGUNGUN festivals. Celebrations of the Ancestral Spirits (Life forces), including royal sacrifices

June SHOPONA and OSANHIN festivals. Veneration of the Orishas of Disease and Medicine respecitvely.

June YEMOJA festival. Celebrations and fertility paegents of the Matron Orisha of the Yorubas

Also annual rites of passage for woman.

July ORUNMILA / IFA festival. Celebrations and recitations of the Orisha of Destiny / Divination [Science]. Also mass gathering of the Yorubas

First weekend in July, OKO and ELEGBA / ESHU festivals.

Celeberations of the Orisha of Farming [Agriculture] and Sex [Power / Communications], respecitvely. Also feasting on new harvests of the Yam tuber crop.

July SHANGO festival. Veneration and celebrations of the 8th century Alaafin of ancient Oyo nation, who became diefied as the Orisha of Thunder and Lightening [Energy]

August OBATALA festival. Celebrations of the Orisha of Heaven [Creation / Culture]

October OYA festival. Celebrations of the Orisha of the Wind. Patron of flooding of the Oya river and guardian of the gateway between life and death. Onset of Autumn and the dry season.

October SHIGIDI festival. Veneration of the Orisha of Nightmares and the unknown dead of the AFRICAN people. Solemn parade by candlelight for unsettled spirits and ghosts.

December OBALUAIYE festival. Celebrations of the Orisha of Work [Business] and of the winter solstice.