Yoruba: Rituals of continuity
Nigeria’s New Year traditions, especially among the Yoruba Kingdom, reflect a deep blend of spirituality, community, and cultural heritage. The Yoruba New Year, known as Odún Tuntun, is celebrated with rituals, festivals, and ancestral remembrance that continue to shape identity and unity today.
As the Gregorian calendar ushers on January 1, Nigerians across diverse ethnic groups mark the New Year with joy, prayers, and festivities. Yet beyond the modern fireworks and church vigils lies a rich historical of indigenous traditions. Among the Yoruba people, one of Africa’s most influential kingdoms, the New Year is not merely a date - it is a spiritual renewal, a cultural affirmation, and a communal bond. The Yoruba view time as cyclical, not linear. Each year is part of a cosmic rhythm tied to Orisha observation, ancestral memory, and the balance of nature. The New Year is a moment to realign with destiny (ayanmo), seek guidance from divinities, and honour ancestors who paved the way.
Odún Tuntun means “new year” but carries the deeper sense of “new season of life". Elders consult the Ifa oracle to reveal the guiding principles for the year. The Yoruba New Year, called Odún Tuntun, is traditionally observed between June 2 and June 5, according to the ancient Kójódá calendar, which predates the Gregorian system. In Oyo, the 10-day Sango Festival in August also marks the Yoruba traditional New Year, blending ancestral worship with thunderous celebration. It is both a spiritual renewal and a political-cultural gathering, reinforcing Yoruba identity. These variations highlight the diversity within Yoruba culture, yet all emphasise renewal, sacrifice, and unity.
For the Yoruba, the New Year is a time of cleansing and sacrifice. Families often perform rituals at rivers or shrines, symbolizing purification. The act of sacrifice - whether food, animals, or symbolic offerings - represents letting go of the old and embracing the new.
Water rituals: Rivers like Osun are central to Yoruba spirituality, symbolising fertility and renewal.
Drumming and dance: The talking drum conveys prayers and praises, linking humans to the divine.
Communal feasts: Sharing food reinforces Ubuntu-like values of unity in diversity.
Societies must acknowledge differences consciously and use cultural heritage as a tool for unity. Just as Yoruba festivals bring people together, we have to embrace differences openly. In Ireland, Africa History Month uses Ubuntu to celebrate diversity - echoing Yoruba values of communal renew al. As the world turns its calendar, the Yoruba remind us: renewal is not just about time, but about conscious awareness, sacrifice, and unity in diversity.
* written by Dr Susuana Olatunji Komolafe