The ancient drums of Yoruba civilisation are calling once again, calling sons and daughters of Odùduwà, lovers of African spirituality, cultural enthusiasts, historians, researchers, tourists, and seekers of indigenous wisdom from every corner of the world to converge in Ekiti State, Nigeria, for the historic 12th World Ifa/Orisa Festival and Pilgrimage, Oke Igeti Festival 2026.
Organised by the International Congress for Ifa Orisa Spirituality (ICIOS), the global gathering promises to be one of the most significant celebrations of Yoruba spirituality, heritage, and identity ever witnessed on African soil.
Far beyond a festival, the World Ifa/Orisa Festival and Pilgrimage has evolved into an international spiritual and cultural movement reconnecting people of African descent and admirers of indigenous traditions with the sacred philosophy, customs, values, and timeless wisdom of the Yoruba people.
For centuries, Yoruba spirituality has stood as one of Africa’s most profound systems of knowledge, rooted in morality, communal harmony, reverence for nature, ancestral wisdom, and spiritual discipline. Today, that heritage continues to inspire millions across Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, the Americas, and beyond.
In 2026, all roads lead to Ekiti State, the spiritual heartbeat of the upcoming pilgrimage and home to the sacred Oke Igeti heritage landscape, a site of deep historical and spiritual significance within Ifa tradition and Yoruba cosmology.
The festival offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience the living essence of Yoruba civilisation through sacred rites, spiritual consultations, cultural processions, traditional music, artistic performances, academic engagements, youth programmes, exhibitions, and heritage tours across some of the most culturally rich locations in the Yoruba nation.
Participants will also explore the breathtaking tourism potential of Ekiti State, from its rolling hills and waterfalls to ancient sacred groves, traditional palaces, historical communities, and natural landscapes that preserve the enduring legacy of the Yoruba people.
Over the years, the World Ifa/Orisa Festival has become a major platform for cultural diplomacy and heritage tourism, attracting thousands of pilgrims, scholars, tourists, and devotees from around the world. The annual gathering has contributed immensely to the economy and international visibility of Ekiti State by stimulating hospitality, transportation, commerce, entertainment, local enterprise, and tourism development.
Hotels, markets, artisans, performers, transport operators, and small businesses consistently benefit from the influx of visitors, while the festival itself continues to position Ekiti as a globally recognised destination for cultural exchange and spiritual tourism.
As anticipation builds for the 2026 edition, the International Congress for Ifa Orisa Spirituality is also calling on media professionals across the globe to embrace responsible and culturally informed reportage about African traditional religion and indigenous spirituality.
According to the organisation, African spirituality has long suffered from distortion, sensationalism, and colonial era stereotypes that misrepresent the true essence of Ifa and Orisa traditions. ICIOS therefore urges journalists and media practitioners to approach coverage of the festival with professionalism, fairness, sensitivity, and intellectual honesty.
The organisation maintains that Ifa and Orisa spirituality, like other world religions, embody ethical teachings, philosophical depth, moral guidance, reverence for humanity and nature, communal values, and spiritual enlightenment.
The media, ICIOS notes, possesses the power not only to shape narratives but also to preserve cultural dignity, promote religious tolerance, and help the world better appreciate the beauty and sophistication of Yoruba civilisation.
The 12th World Ifa/Orisa Festival and Pilgrimage 2026 is therefore more than an event. It is a global cultural homecoming, a spiritual awakening, and an invitation to rediscover the greatness of the Odua heritage.
To all lovers of Yoruba traditions across the world, the message is clear. Ekiti 2026 awaits you.
Come and experience the spirit of the ancestors.
Come and witness the beauty of Yoruba culture.
Come and reconnect with the sacred heritage of the Odua nation.
Together, let us celebrate African spirituality with truth, dignity, pride, and respect.
This press release was signed by Ifayomi Adunni, Public Relations Officer, ICIOS Worldwide.
