Ulefunta Festival in Akure to Celebrate Culture, Not Fetishism

Oba Adetoyinbo Aladelusi, the Deji of Akure Kingdom, has clarified that the Ulefunta traditional festival, the highest festival in Akure Kingdom, does not involve fetishism, contrary to some beliefs. This statement was made by Oba Olu Ajanaku, the Olu of Okelisa Titun and Chairman of the Ulefunta Festival Committee, during a briefing on the upcoming 2026 Ulefunta festival at the Akure palace.

The six-day celebration will feature cultural displays, a football competition, health outreach, a colloquium, masquerade displays, chieftaincy conferment, and religious services, aimed at promoting unity among the people of Akure. The festival traditionally marks the Deji's vacation period, during which no other celebrations occur in Akure.

Notably, the festival will conclude with a service at St. David’s Anglican Church Cathedral and a Jumat service at the Akure Central Mosque, emphasizing civility and social interaction. Additionally, plans for the Akure Heritage Library and digital archive were announced to preserve the town's history and cultural identity.