Osogbo

A city of Yoruba culture and art, with sculptures of deities throughout the World Heritage Osun Sacred Grove, the grand Osun Festival in August, and the bronze heads of ancient Ife close by.

Osogbo is the capital of Osun State in southwestern Nigeria, about 230 km northeast of Lagos, and a major centre of Yoruba culture and contemporary African art. The city is famous for the Osun River and its river goddess, Osun: on the outskirts, the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove is a World Heritage Site, where shrines and 'New Sacred Art' sculptures created by Austrian artist Susanne Wenger with local artists are scattered through primary forest; every August the Osun-Osogbo Festival draws hundreds of thousands of people. The Osogbo School of art, which emerged from the 1960s, and the tradition of adire indigo dyeing can be experienced at places such as the Nike Centre for Art and Culture. For day trips, head about 40 km to Ile-Ife, regarded by the Yoruba as the cradle of their civilisation, to see the bronze heads at the Ife National Museum, the Ooni's palace and the Opa Oranmiyan staff, or go east to Erin-Ijesha to climb the Olumirin Waterfalls. The Nov–Mar dry season is the easiest time to travel, while the August festival is the liveliest period but requires early accommodation bookings. It is about 4–5 hours' drive from Lagos and about 1.5 hours from Ibadan. Tourist facilities are limited, so hire a reliable driver and guide, and check safety advice before travelling.

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