An Igbo woman’s testimony about her devotion to the Yorùbá deity Òṣun has gone viral after she was seen at the Òṣun-Òṣogbo Festival in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
The woman, who travelled from southeastern Nigeria to pay homage to Òṣun, said her spiritual connection with the deity began after what she described as a personal calling from Òṣun.
“I am from the East, but Òṣun called me and I answered,” she said.
According to her, being Igbo does not prevent her from venerating Òṣun. She explained that women with certain spiritual roles in Igbo traditional culture may be referred to as Ezenwanyi, but she personally identifies Òṣun as her spiritual mother.
“Òṣun is my mother. I venerate Òṣun,” she said.
She further emphasized that language and ethnic origin should not necessarily be regarded as barriers to spiritual devotion.
“You can be from the East and Òṣun calls you. That is what I am,” she said.
The devotee also recalled that her godmother often describes her as having a “cool spirit”, which she associates with the spiritual character of Òṣun.
“My godmother always says my spirit is cool. I am a daughter of Òṣun,” she said.
Her appearance at the Òṣun-Òṣogbo Festival has attracted attention online, particularly because she openly identifies as Igbo while participating in the worship of a major Yorùbá Òrìṣà.
The Òṣun-Òṣogbo Festival is one of Nigeria’s most prominent traditional religious and cultural festivals, attracting devotees, traditionalists, tourists and cultural practitioners from Nigeria and the African diaspora each year.
The woman’s testimony has sparked conversations online about spirituality, ethnicity and the ways African traditional religious practices cross cultural and linguistic boundaries.
For the woman herself, however, her identity is uncomplicated: she is Igbo, but she believes Òṣun called her — and she answered.
