Ife Traditionalists declare seven-day Oro festival

Traditionalists in Ile-Ife, Osun state, have declared a seven-day sacred traditional Oro festival following the alleged death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

During the seven-day period, residents of the ancient town, especially women must stay indoors from dusk to dawn.

Major markets will still be open but are expected to be closed from 7.00 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Ooni palace at Enuwa was calm with less human and vehicular traffic.

The festival is known to be part of tradition when a king dies but sources close to the palace have outrightly denied reports of the Ooni’s death saying the Oro has nothing to do with the rumors.

Palace sources speaking on the Oro festival have stated that whoever is caught outside beyond 7:00pm will have themselves to blame.

source: Today.ng