Office of the Obafinni

Justice · World Peace · Integrity

Royal House ofObàtálá

The Living Heritage

Obàtálá Annual Festival

Each year in Ilé-Ifẹ̀, the annual Festival of Òrìṣà-Nlá Obàtálá brings together priesthood, devotees and community in prayer, procession, sacred music and ceremonial observance, preserving a living tradition transmitted across generations.

Obàtálá priests in white garments and caps with horsetail whisks processing at the annual festival in Ilé-Ifẹ̀ — Priests Kings of Obàtálá in Procession
Priests Kings of Obàtálá in the sacred white cloth and pointed caps, bearing the traditional horsetail whisks and white coral beads, process through Ilé-Ifẹ̀ during the annual festival.

Large gathering of Obàtálá priests and devotees in white garments assembled at Ilé-Ifẹ̀ for the annual festival — Gathering of the Priesthood
Priests Kings and devotees of Obàtálá assemble in sacred white before the palace gates at Ilé-Ifẹ̀ for the annual festival.

Member of the Obàtálá priesthood in white walking in the annual festival procession — The White Procession
A King of the Obàtálá priesthood dances in the festival procession dressed in white and bearing a ceremonial horsetail whisk.

White façade and arched entrance of the Obàtálá Temple in Ilé-Ifẹ̀ — Obàtálá Temple
The white façade and ceremonial entrance of the Obàtálá Temple during the annual festival in Ilé-Ifẹ̀.

Obàtálá devotee wearing ceremonial white and blue attire and beaded regalia — A Queen Devotee of Obàtálá
A Queen in ceremonial white and blue attire, beaded regalia and an Obàtálá festival crown participates in the annual observance.

Priest King of Obàtálá in white ceremonial garments carrying a horsetail whisk — Priest King in Procession
A Priest King of Obàtálá carries the traditional horsetail whisk while members of the priesthood gather in sacred white.

A child and an adult playing ceremonial drums at the Obàtálá Annual Festival — Festival Drummers
Young and elder drummers sound the ceremonial drums together during the Obàtálá Annual Festival.

King of the Obàtálá priesthood in white ceremonial garments and pointed cap dancing with horsetail whisks in the festival procession — Elders of the Priesthood
A King of the Obàtálá priesthood dances through the streets of Ilé-Ifẹ̀ in sacred white, bearing the traditional horsetail whisks during the annual festival.

Member of the Obàtálá priesthood carrying a horsetail whisk before the temple — Before the Obàtálá Temple
A member of the priesthood carries a ceremonial horsetail whisk before the Obàtálá Temple as devotees gather in white.

Ilé-Ifẹ̀ · The Cradle of the Yoruba · King of the White Cloth