3 reasons Yorubas celebrate Ìsẹ̀se Day

Yorubas in the southwestern part of Nigeria set aside a day to celebrate their culture and tradition. Ìsẹ̀se Day comes up in Nigeria on a specific day every August in Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Lagos and Ekiti.

For this reason, four governors—Seyi Makinde, Ademola Adeleke, Dapo Abiodun, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu—declared August 20 a public holiday to commemorate Ìsẹ̀se Day. But what exactly is the reason behind this annual spectacle?

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1. Beacon of heritage

By setting aside this day, the community reaffirms its commitment to cultural heritage and its significance in the modern world. An X user, @ILE_AJISEFA said the day aims “to remind us of the importance of our Ìsẹ̀se.”

2. Unity

Celebrations honouring Yoruba traditions extend far beyond the shores of Nigeria. These festivities, often characterised by music, dance, and spiritual rituals, serve as bridges connecting diasporic communities to their homeland. Another user, @vivimedianet wrote: “Isese is used to denote different kinds of festivals held by adherents of the Yoruba traditional religion or culture in Nigeria and Cuba, Brazil, the US, Benin, and other countries.”

3. Isese Day helps strengthen bonds

Some see this day as the time to reconnect with ancestral wisdom, honour the spirits of their forefathers, and reinforce the bonds of community. With over four million people in western Nigeria, the Yoruba are one of the leading groups in the country.

For @info_deuth, “Isese Day is more than a celebration; it’s a reminder to stay connected to our roots, honour ancestral wisdom, and pass on traditions. In a changing world, Isese Day shines as a beacon of cultural identity, preserving Yoruba heritage for future generations.”

Smaller Yoruba communities also exist in northern Nigeria, as well as in Benin and Togo, where they are known as Nagot or Anago. Additionally, the Itsekiri people of western Nigeria and the royal lineage of Benin share ancestral ties to the Yoruba homeland of Ile-Ife.