The Ọ̀ṣún River, known in Yorùbá as Odò Ọ̀ṣún, originates in Ekiti State and flows westward into Òṣun State. After merging with the Erinle River near the town of Ede, it continues its southwestern course, passing through the Asejire Reservoir and flowing through Òṣun and Ogun States until it empties into the Lekki Lagoon and, eventually, the Atlantic Ocean. This river is dedicated to Òṣún, one of the most revered deities in the Yorùbá pantheon, serving as a significant cultural and spiritual landmark.
The annual celebration at Òṣún’s shrine, located near the river in Òṣogbo, has become a globally recognized pilgrimage event, particularly during the famous festival in August. Òṣún, goddess of rivers and fertility, is traditionally regarded as one of the wives of Ṣàngó, the deity of thunder, renowned for her generosity and care for her followers.
The roots of are deeply embedded in Ìgèdè-Èkìtì, in Ekiti State, where the source of the river that bears her name is located. Òṣún was born as the third daughter of Aké, a prince and hunter from Ilé-Ifẹ̀, and his wife, Erindo. The couple had sixteen children, including the rivers Ògbésè and Èlémì. After a familial dispute over inheritance, Òṣún transformed into a river, marking her transition into divinity.
The name Ìgèdè originates from Ògèdè (meaning “enchantment”), reflecting the city’s spiritual and historical significance. Ìgèdè-Èkìtì hosts more than sixteen rivers, all of which originate within its territory without any flowing into the city. Associated with fertility, Òṣún is celebrated for transforming lives and blessing barren women.
The Sacred Grove of Ọ̀ṣún in Òṣógbó is one of the last remnants of primary forests in southern Nigeria, representing a spiritual and cultural sanctuary. It is considered Òṣún’s dwelling place, hosting shrines, sculptures, and artworks dedicated to her and other deities. This grove is a testament to ancient traditions, environmental conservation, and artistic celebration. While sacred groves were once common, many have disappeared or diminished. Òṣogbo preserves the largest remaining grove, featuring forty shrines, sculptures, palaces, and sacred sites along the riverbanks.
In recent years, local and international artists have revitalized the grove, creating modern sculptures that reinforce the connection between people and the Yorùbá pantheon. The annual Òṣún festival, held in July and August, celebrates this spiritual and cultural connection, preserving the essence of Yorùbá tradition.
According to the Yorùbá spiritual divination system Ifá, Ìgèdè-Èkìtì is acknowledged as Òṣún’s sacred origin. Ifá verses narrate her spiritual transformation, describing her as a primordial deity connected to freshwater and the balance of creation. Despite her later association with Òṣogbo, her essence remains rooted in Ìgèdè.
ODÙ ÒSÁ ÒGÚNDÁ ( The Odu of Òsún’s origin and Jouney)
“Igede lo difa fun Òṣun, ọmọ Aké ti n bẹ ní Ìgèdè-Èkìtì,
Wọ́n ní kó sọ ìtàn rẹ fún wọn ni gbogbo ayé,
Òṣun ṣé ohun gbogbo ní ibèèrè aye,
Ọmọ ọdò tó mú omi ṣáṣàṣà ní kìkìrí,
Igba gbogbo la fi máa ṣe ebo.”
Translation:
“The divination was cast for Òṣún, the child of Aké, dwelling in Ìgèdè-Èkìtì,
She was instructed to reveal her story to all the world,
Òṣún was the one who provided all things at the beginning of existence,
The daughter of the river whose waters flow endlessly,
Always she was advised to offer sacrifices.”
Ifá chants praise Òṣún as a benevolent queen blessing the waters of Ìgèdè. While she relocated to Òṣogbo, her spiritual bond with Ìgèdè endures. Priests from Òṣogbo visit Òṣún’s sources in Ìgèdè before the annual festival, reaffirming this ancestral connection.
Despite Òṣogbo’s international fame, bolstered by Austrian artist Susanne Wenger, UNESCO recognition, and local artistic movements, Ìgèdè-Èkìtì remains the cradle of Òṣún. While Wenger and other artists elevated Òṣogbo’s cultural prominence, Ìgèdè has focused on preserving its spiritual significance.
Acknowledging Ìgèdè-Èkìtì as Òṣún’s true origin is crucial to preserving the full narrative of this spiritual tradition. Its historical and spiritual importance ensures that Òṣún’s legacy continues to be celebrated in both Ìgèdè and Òṣogbo.
Òṣún, one of the most venerated Yorùbá deities, transcends her connection to locations like Ìgèdè-Èkìtì and Òṣogbo, deeply influencing the African diaspora in Brazil, Cuba, and the United States. Known as Oxum in Candomblé, she is celebrated for her association with love, fertility, and motherhood, symbolizing cultural resilience and resistance to oppression. Òṣún also serves as a spiritual mediator, fostering harmony and balance.
In the modern world, she has become a symbol of female empowerment and an inspiration for artistic and academic movements. Her stories highlight the importance of preserving sacred ecosystems, reinforcing her relevance as a spiritual and environmental icon. Òṣún represents cultural connection and renewal, essential for celebrating and safeguarding Yorùbá traditions both within the diaspora and beyond.
