Alaafin Akeem Owoade Launches Oyo Empire Day Committee

On Tuesday, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, unveiled a 37-member Central Working Committee for the Oyo Empire Day Celebration scheduled for 2026 during an inauguration at his palace in Oyo town. He stressed the need for preserving Yoruba cultural heritage and urged the committee to work with integrity, unity, and commitment.

Owoade highlighted the Oyo Empire's significant role in the history of Yorubaland, West Africa, and the African continent, noting its sophisticated political institutions, military organization, and rich cultural heritage. He stated that the celebration aims to document, promote, and transmit this heritage to future generations under the theme "Celebrating Our Heritage, Preserving Our Legacy, Building Our Future." The monarch called for participation from communities in Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Ogun, and Ondo states, as well as Oyo-linked communities in the Republic of Benin, emphasizing that the initiative aims to celebrate Oyo's heritage without diminishing the history of other communities.