Ten-year-old Princess Alimot Moredeke Ajoke Osunbunmi, the newly appointed Arugba of the Osun-Osogbo Festival, has performed one of the most significant traditional duties attached to her role.
The young princess took part in the festival's sacred procession in Osogbo, Osun State, carrying the revered calabash as worshippers and traditionalists made their way to the Osun Sacred Grove.
Friday's procession marked Alimot's first time performing the highly respected ritual since she was selected as the new Arugba. She was unable to participate in the 2025 procession because she was considered too young at the time.
Alimot was selected in March 2025 through traditional Ifa divination to succeed Osuntomi Ewatomi, who served as Arugba for approximately 12 years before her marriage brought her tenure to an end.
Ahead of this year's procession, cultural content creator Wàá Ṣeré announced that the young Arugba had completed the traditional Ifa rites required for her role.
He wrote on X: “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.”
The Arugba is a central figure in the annual Osun-Osogbo Festival, with the ritual procession forming one of the festival's most important traditional ceremonies.
Alimot's debut therefore represents a significant moment in her tenure and highlights the continuation of the centuries-old cultural traditions associated with the Osun-Osogbo Festival.
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