Cultural calendars reveal opportunity windows for those who understand timing patterns. Nigeria's most Instagram-worthy festival follows a precise Islamic calendar sequence that savvy participants track months in advance. Festival success flows from timeline awareness, not last-minute scrambling.
The 2025 timeline: Eid al-Adha begins on Friday, June 6th, and Ojude Oba celebrates on Sunday, June 8th.
Your festival timeline determines your experience quality:
- January-March 2025: Early booking window: Accommodation releases for advance bookings. Hotels within 30km of Ijebu Ode accept reservations. Price advantage: 40-60% lower than May rates.
- April-May 2025: Cultural preparation phase: The traditional attire procurement deadlines approach. Quality Aso Oke requires 6-8 weeks for custom work. Regberegbe (age-grade) groups finalise participation plans and welcome new members.
- 5th June 2025: Day of Arafah: Islamic calendar marking begins. Eid al-Adha preparations commence globally. Final moon sighting confirmations for exact festival timing occur this evening.
- 6th-7th June 2025: Eid celebrations: Muslim communities celebrate Eid al-Adha. Ijebu families prepare for Ojude Oba. Traditional protocols and family coordination intensify across Ijebuland.
- 8th June 2025: The main festival celebration: Horse-riding families (Baloguns, Eleshins, Kukus) converge at Ojude Oba Arcade. Regberegbe (age-grade groups) parade at the front courtyard of the king's palace. Twenty-five warrior families demonstrate horse-riding prowess alongside colourful regberegbe displays. Homage ceremony to the Awujale (traditional ruler) of Ijebuland.
