Blessing Taiwo
The Lagos State Government has declared Thursday, August 20, 2026 work-free for the celebration of this year’s Isese Day.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe on Wednesday, the Isese festival was described as an expression of Yoruba traditions and spirituality.
“To ensure Lagosians and tourists get an unforgettable experience during the celebration, the Lagos State Government has declared the day a work-free day for public servants, political appointees and others,” Aregbe said.
He noted that about 3 million residents will gather for the traditional worship and celebration, adding that the Yoruba tribe is one of Africa’s largest ethnic nations with more than 55 million people globally.
According to him, “adhering to the culture and tradition over the years has sustained the Ìṣẹ̀ṣe festivals in Cuba, Brazil, and the Caribbean, where many Yorubas live aside from Africa to this day.
“When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage.
“Iṣẹ̀ṣe Day marks the culmination of a full week of traditional activities, and has been observed as a work-free day in Lagos since 2023, following a request from the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs. Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has upheld it every year since, in line with the administration’s commitment to indigenous values and religious inclusiveness under the THEMES+ Agenda.
“Three million voices rising in honour of tradition is not noise. It is history, faith and cultural pride in harmony. Whether you worship in a mosque, a church or a grove, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day belongs to you, because heritage has no denomination. Lagos remains the city where every heritage finds its place.”
He thanked the governor for his support to the traditional institution and urged all participants to celebrate peacefully and respectfully.
This year’s celebrations will feature prayers, rituals, processions, drumming and cultural displays dedicated to the Òrìṣà, coordinated by the Association of African Traditional Religion Nigeria and Overseas (AATREN).
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