Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticised the selection of 10-year-old Princess Alimot Osunbunmi as the Arugba at the 2026 Osun-Osogbo Festival, describing the practice as a form of child abuse.
Alimot carried the sacred calabash during the annual procession to the Osun Sacred Grove in Osogbo, Osun State, on Thursday, becoming the youngest person to perform the revered role in the history of the festival.
Festival organisers described the development as “history in the making,” explaining that the young princess was selected through traditional Ifa divination in March 2025.
She succeeded Osuntomi Ewatomi, who served as Arugba for about 12 years before relinquishing the role following her marriage.
Reacting to the development, Sowore questioned the appropriateness of assigning such a significant traditional responsibility to a minor, arguing that a 10-year-old child cannot give informed consent to participate in the ritual.
“This is child abuse,” he said.
His comments have sparked debate on social media, with some Nigerians supporting his concerns over children’s rights and consent, while others defended the practice as an important cultural and spiritual tradition that has long been associated with the Osun-Osogbo Festival.
The Osun-Osogbo Festival, recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage event, is one of Nigeria’s most prominent traditional festivals. It attracts worshippers, tourists and cultural enthusiasts from Nigeria and other parts of the world each year….see more