![]() The latter festival, which has been held since 2002, is organized by the Olokun Festival Foundation and has become an important tourist and local attraction. Another, more modern festival is held in Lagos State in November. The Edos celebrate theirs in late February (1st 'moon' after the 12th moon) that takes place in Usonigbe, the site of Olokun's shrine, in Edo State. As a festival of note among the Ilajes, Olokun Festival is held in high esteem, as the people believe it has a moderating influence on their lives. The worshippers of Olokun are generally dressed in immaculate white attires with their faces coasted with white chalk ‘efun’. Olokun is also a goddess of riches and has the power to enrich her devotees. She is also believed to be in control of ocean waves, and she can sink sea vessels of evildoers. Īmong the Ilaje who live along the coastline of Ondo etate, the Olokun deity is believed to be the goddess of the sea, who has the power to give children to barren women. After this she moved everything through Ilare to a very remote part of the earth then which is now the sea of today. “Right from Ilode, where we stand now, the great goddess Olokun began of drawing all the water together. Thus Obatala, armed with igba iwa, descended from heaven through a chain. Olodumare through Obatala, the chief Orisha, went to the world to commence the process of filling it with life. ![]() At the beginning of life, the earth was formless and filled with water. According to the Walode of Ile-Ife Chief Kolawole Omotayo, who is the Abore (Chief Priest) of Olokun of the Source explained: “Olokun is the goddess who gathered all the water of the earth together, at creation, and moved it to its current location – the sea. In Yoruba tradition, the chief Olokun shrine is located in the Ilode quarter of Ile Ife. Both are celebrated and venerated in different festivals. Olokun is the goddess/god of the sea, while Olosa also known as Osara is the Goddess of the lagoon and estuaries. In the Yoruba Language, Okun means Sea, while Osa means Lagoon (enclosed sea). The Olokun Festival is the name of annual cultural festivals in Nigeria celebrated throughout Yorubaland by various Yoruba people groups, and also by the Edo. ![]()
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