Oyo Empire Day to Welcome 60,000 Visitors in December

The inaugural Oyo Empire Day celebration is set to take place in December, with expectations of attracting 60,000 visitors, averaging 20,000 attendees daily. This initiative, spearheaded by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, aims to reconnect individuals of Oyo ancestry from Nigeria and the Diaspora with their heritage.

Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, chairman of the Central Working Committee, announced that the event will be held annually on the third Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of December. The celebration is designed as a pan-Oyo homecoming, targeting communities historically linked to the old Oyo Empire across various regions, including Kwara, Ogun, Osun, and beyond.

The program will include a carnival-like procession, historical lectures, and performances, culminating in a grand finale at the Durbar Stadium. More than 100 ancestral family compounds in Oyo have been prepared to welcome returning descendants, and a large identification map will assist visitors in locating their family roots.