Osun-Osogbo festival: Curator warns against drinking from river

The Curator and Site Manager of the National Museum, Osogbo, known as the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, OSun State, Mr Joseph Aworeni, has advised devotees and residents not to drink from the Osun River due to contamination.

Mr Aworeni, who gave the advice in an interview on Wednesday, said illegal mining activities in the state contributed to the pollution of the river.

He explained that issues pertaining to the water were discussed by stakeholders ahead of the forthcoming Osun-Osogbo Festival expected to commence on July 22, and end on August 9.

He said, “We recently talked about the mining activities affecting the river; and you can see pollution is coming due to illegal mining practices going on in the state.

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“Although looking at the colour of the river, it may also be from the effects of the rains, but to the devotees, such contamination does not affect their spiritual beliefs.”

He said the devotees believed that once the maid carrying the spiritual calabash approached the river, there was no contamination of the water again.

He further said, “They see the water as a concoction (agbo) for spiritual help and divine protection. Visitors and tourists come from far distances to drink the water.

“The analysis carried out recently showed that the water is still contaminated and unsafe.”

He added that, “Last year, we did not get any sponsorship for the festival celebration, but I believe there will be new sponsors this year.

“The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Laaroye II, constituted a committee to look into some critical areas, which include sponsorship.”

It was gathered that the grove, where the river flows through, is several centuries old and is among the last of the sacred forests that once adjoined most Yoruba cities before urbanisation.

In recognition of its global significance and cultural value, the sacred grove was inscribed as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) World Heritage Site in 2005. (NAN)