Ten-year-old Princess Alimot Moredeke Ajoke Osunbunmi has taken on one of the most important duties of her role as the Arugba of the Osun-Osogbo Festival, carrying the sacred calabash during the festival’s traditional procession to the Osun Sacred Grove in Osogbo, Osun State
Friday’s procession marked the first time the young princess performed the revered ritual since becoming Arugba. She could not participate in the 2025 procession because she was considered too young at the time.
Alimot was chosen in March 2025 through traditional Ifa divination to become the new Arugba, replacing Osuntomi Ewatomi, who served in the role for approximately 12 years before her marriage brought her tenure to an end.
Before this year’s procession, cultural content creator Wàá Ṣeré announced that Alimot had completed the traditional Ifa rites required for her role.
“The Arugba has been fortified! Ìdáfá Arugba is now done and dusted. Arugba takes the required sacrifice to Èṣù on behalf of the whole of the land of Òṣogbo,” Wàá Ṣeré wrote on X.
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