Osun Osogbo Grove: A Distinguished World Heritage Site

In preparation for the grand finale of the 2023 edition of the annual Osun Osogbo International Festival climaxing this week, the Osun Grove, UNESCO’s World Heritage Site of renown, has become beehive of preparatory activities.

NIYI OLASINDE, who was at the site recently, here engages JOSEPH AWORENI, the Curator and Site Manager, on stakeholders’ levels of preparedness and numerous sundry issues. Excerpts:

As Curator, what are the innovations you brought to bear since assumption of office?

To God be the glory. I came on board around January and I first and foremost wished to continue with and take to higher levels the innovations which my predecessors had begun. The new thing so far is that I am fashioning out how the work would be improved. How will the Heritage Site be improved; both administratively and professionally. These we have been pursuing.

Successive administrations in the state were deemed to have done their best in bettering the lots of this site. What have the past administrations in the state done?

This is a World Heritage Site. We have various stakeholders. Osun State Government is the major stakeholder. This means the government has lots of responsibilities for the heritage site. likewise, the other stakeholders. So, whoever comes to power takes up the responsibilities. We engage and collaborate with the State Government, rally their support and make specific requests within the scopes of their duties and responsibilities. The past administrations – I mean all of them – did their best. The Federal Government too has been performing excellently well.

The past few years were characterised by hindrances like the global outbreak of COVID-19 epidemics. Are there similar fears this year?

We don’t have such fears this year. Coronavirus outbreak was in 2020. The entire world has overcome that.

So the events held perfectly well in 2021 and 2022?

In 2021, we still had traces of the restrictions globally. That year, it was better a bit. In 2022, it was much better. We earnestly hope for the best this year.

Then, we should expect tourists, adherents, enthusiasts and all the rest from all parts of the world this year?

Yes. We are optimistic that all categories of stakeholders will grace the occasion, both from within the country and from foreign countries.

What roles are expected from the Ataoja-in-Council and the Ataoja himself as the Chief Celebrator this year?

I may not have much to say about the festival; owing to the fact that the festival is an affair of the Ataoja-in-Council. We function here as a parastatal of the Federal Government, under the federal Ministry of Information and Culture. We are strictly here to maintain the site; focusing on its cultural development. When you talk about the festival, Kabiyesi, the Ataoja and his Council are much more involved than we are here. We are career federal civil servants.

Let’s clarify this: between your office and the Ataoja, who is the custodian of the site?

Wherever a Heritage Site of this nature is located, the traditional ruler of that place is the chief custodian of that site. In essence, Baba Ataoja is the Chief Custodian of this site, being in Osogbo and the undertakers of its enlistment sought his permission. So there was collaboration and partnership between the local community and the UNESCO team.

What is the level of preparedness for this year’s event?

Being an annual global or international event, the festival is much sought-after. Calls continue to come in for enquiries. All visitors are much welcome. Lots of preparations are on ground, involving everybody – security, accommodation, press, etc. In terms of accommodation, we have been consulting the hoteliers to get prepared. In terms of security, a despatch of securitymen has been visiting to assess the grounds. We therefore hope for the best in this year’s grand event.

Are there plans anytime soon to make affordable accommodation available on this site?

That’s a serious one! This is a World Heritage Site. There are guiding rules and principles for such sites as this. This is not an ordinary cultural centre; you can’t compare this site to Olumirin or other locations where people visit for mere sight-seeing and for recreation. This site has spiritual undertones and traditional festival attached. That traditional festival is really boosting the image of this place throughout the world. Among the guiding rules, it is not allowed to have residential facilities on sites like this. Even the supportive work the Governor carries out at present is being controlled by certain guiding rules. You would notice that the structures you are seeing now are still maintaining their initial forms and shapes. That is one of the rules and ethics. The initial forms must not change. That is what is being referred to as ‘OUV’ of the place, that is, Outstanding Universal Value. The OUV of this place is what UNESCO observes as not present in any other place, which qualified it for enlistment. They don’t just enlist. That OUV must not be altered. Immediately it is altered – by any stakeholder – you risk deenlistment of the site. Throughout the world today, we are having up to 157 countries having nominated enlistment heritage sites. This includes Nigeria. The total enlisted heritage centres now as we speak is 1,157 throughout the world. The competition is on to have more and more sites enlisted.

Is there any subvention from UNESCO, annually, quarterly or monthly?

We have to appreciate UNESCO. UNESCO is not giving money. They offer technical advice. They promote the sites. Upon enlisting your site, it has become a household name across nations. Nothing monetary – subvention, grant, salary. It is the Federal Government and the State Government that collaborate on funding.

What roles do sponsors play and are we having more of them this year?

I hope there will be more. But that question can more appropriately be answered by the consultant for the festival. The consultant is the promoter. They are the ones who scout for sponsors for the festival.

What is the breakdown of events making this year’s episode of Osun Osogbo?

Well, the brunt for that lies much in Ataoja-in-Council. But broadly speaking, the events last for an entire month. But the culmination for the grand finale climaxes with a two-week line-up of events, opening with the popular Iwopopo, which affords the monarch and his Ataoja-in-Council the privilege of dancing around the city once in a year. This Iwopopo, which opens the final events, takes place on Monday, July 31. Lighting the 16-eyed torch (Atupa ol’oju Merindinlogun) takes place on Thursday, august 3. Then we have other events like Ifa Arugba (the Votary Maid Event) before the Grand Finale which always comes up on a Friday. That of this year comes up on Friday, August 11, 2023.