Sowore Raises Child Rights Concerns Over 10-Year-Old Arugba at Osun Festival

Omoyele Sowore has raised concerns over the involvement of a 10-year-old girl in the sacred Arugba role at the 2026 Osun-Osogbo Festival in Osogbo, Osun State, questioning whether a child of that age can meaningfully consent to such a major cultural responsibility.

The young girl, Princess Alimot Moredeke Ajoke Osunbunmi, carried the sacred calabash for the first time on Friday during the annual procession to the Osun Sacred Grove.

Her appearance marked an important moment in her tenure as the Arugba after she was unable to perform the calabash-carrying duty during the 2025 edition because of her young age.

Alimot was selected through traditional Ifa divination in March 2025 to serve as the new Arugba, succeeding Osuntomi Ewatomi, who reportedly occupied the revered position for about 12 years before her marriage brought her tenure to an end.

The Arugba plays a central role in the traditional activities of the Osun-Osogbo Festival, one of Nigeria’s major cultural and spiritual celebrations. The Arugba carries the sacred calabash during the procession to the Osun Sacred Grove as part of the festival’s traditional rites.

While the participation of the young princess has been celebrated as an important cultural moment, Sowore has focused attention on the implications of assigning such a responsibility to a child.

In his reaction, the former presidential candidate argued that a 10-year-old child may not have the maturity required to make an informed decision about accepting what he described as a lifelong cultural responsibility.

“A 10-year-old cannot make an informed decision about accepting a lifelong cultural responsibility,” Sowore said.

He questioned the decision to celebrate the child’s participation as “making history”, arguing that greater attention should be paid to her rights and welfare.

According to Sowore, culture remains an important part of people’s identity, but traditions should also evolve alongside society’s understanding of children’s rights and dignity.

He maintained that no cultural practice should impose obligations on a child who is too young to give meaningful consent.

Sowore said protecting children should take precedence over preserving traditions that could place responsibilities on them before they are old enough to freely choose whether they want to participate.

“A child deserves the freedom to grow, learn, and choose their own path when they are old enough,” he said.

He added that allowing children to grow into adulthood before making major decisions about their lives does not necessarily mean abandoning cultural heritage.

Rather, he argued that cultural traditions should be preserved in ways that respect children’s welfare and personal freedom.

The debate comes as the annual Osun-Osogbo Festival continues to attract visitors, traditional worshippers, tourists and cultural enthusiasts from Nigeria and beyond.

The festival is recognised as an important symbol of Yoruba cultural heritage, with activities centred around the Osun Sacred Grove and traditional rites associated with Osun.

The role of the Arugba remains one of the most prominent aspects of the festival, making the age and responsibilities of the current holder a subject of renewed public discussion following Sowore’s intervention.

The controversy also highlights a wider debate about the balance between cultural preservation and modern expectations concerning children’s rights.

For supporters of the tradition, the Arugba remains an important link between generations and a central figure in maintaining the spiritual and cultural identity of the festival.

For critics such as Sowore, however, the question is whether children should be given responsibilities of such significance before they are old enough to understand their implications and make independent choices.

As Princess Alimot begins her tenure as Arugba, her first successful procession with the sacred calabash has therefore become both a cultural milestone and the subject of a broader conversation about tradition, childhood, consent and welfare.