Osun

Osun State is the spiritual heartland of the Yoruba people, home to the sacred city of Ile-Ife (the mythical birthplace of humanity in Yoruba cosmology) and the UNESCO World Heritage Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove. The state's capital, Osogbo, is one of Nigeria's most culturally vibrant cities, famous for the annual Osun-Osogbo Festival — a spectacular two-week celebration that draws pilgrims and tourists from across the world. Osun State is a land of Yoruba history and tradition, with more traditional rulers and palaces per square kilometre than perhaps any other Nigerian state. The state's economy is driven by agriculture (cocoa, yam, cassava), commerce along the Lagos–Ibadan–Osogbo corridor, and a growing tourism industry around its UNESCO heritage site.

The Osun-Osogbo Festival in August is the prime time — book early. The dry season (November–March) is best for sightseeing. The rainy season (April–October) is heavy but the grove is at its greenest during the festival.

Osogbo is the transport hub, connected to Ibadan (1 hr) and Ilorin (2 hrs) by road. Ile-Ife is 45 mins from Osogbo. Buses and shared taxis connect all towns. Within Osogbo and Ife, keke tricycles and taxis are the main options. The Ife–Ibadan road is a major highway.

• Osogbo — the state capital, with the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove (UNESCO), the Osogbo Palace, and the Nike Art Gallery
• Ile-Ife — the ancient and spiritual cradle of the Yoruba people, with the Ooni's Palace, the Ife Museum (with exquisite bronze and terracotta heads), and the Oduduwa University
• Ilesa — a historic Yoruba town, the seat of the Owa of Ilesa, with the Ilesa Grammar School (one of Nigeria's oldest)
• Ede — a town between Osogbo and Ife, the seat of the Timi of Ede, with the Ede Palace and the Ede Central Mosque
• Iwo — a town in the south-west of the state, a major agricultural centre and the seat of the Oluwo of Iwo
• Ikirun — a town in the north, known for the Ikirun Hills and the Ikirun Market
• Ejigbo — a town near Osogbo, a centre of the Ejigbo people with the Ejigbo Palace
• Ila Orangun — the historic capital of the Igbomina Yoruba, the seat of the Orangun of Ila
• Ipetu-Ijesha — a town in the Ijesha area, the seat of the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland
• Ikire — a town in the south-west, known for the Ikire Hills and the Ikire market
• Gbongan — a town in the south, the seat of the Akinrun of Gbongan
• Oke-Ila Orangun — a town in the north, the hilltop capital of the Oke-Ila community

Osun's cuisine is classic Yoruba: Amala, Ewedu, Gbegiri, Pounded Yam with Egusi Soup, and Efo Riro. The Osogbo night market has excellent street food. Ife is known for Moin Moin and Akara.

The Osun-Osogbo Festival (August) is the state's crown jewel — a UNESCO-recognised two-week festival honouring the river goddess Osun, with processions, music, and dancing. The Olojo Festival (Ile-Ife) is one of the oldest Yoruba festivals, where the Ooni of Ife appears in the sacred crown of Oduduwa.

• Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove — the only UNESCO World Heritage site in Nigeria's South-West, a sacred forest of shrines and sculptures
• Ile-Ife Museum — world-class bronze and terracotta heads from the ancient Ife civilisation
• Ooni's Palace (Ile-Ife) — the spiritual centre of the Yoruba world, over 1,000 years of continuous monarchy
• Olojo Festival (Ife) — one of the oldest continuous Yoruba cultural celebrations