‘Why male priest carried sacred calabash at 2025 Osun-Osogbo festival’

The duty of carrying the sacred calabash known as “Igba Osun”, usually being performed by a votary maid, was carried out by a male priest simply identified as Adesina, at the 2025 Osun Osogbo festival on Friday. 

Tribune Online investigations revealed that the usual carrier of the calabash, Osuntomi Ewatomilola, who had rendered the services for over a decade, got married August 2024 and this made her to quit the role.

Tribune Online earlier reports that a replacement emerged in March 2025 when another female virgin, a nine-year-old Alimot Osunbunmi, was chosen by Ifa divination as the ‘Arugba Osun’ from the royal family in Osogbo.

However, our correspondent learnt that the choice of a male carrying the calabash for the 2025 edition was because Osunbunmi is too young for the duty and there are concerns her strength might not be able to carry the load for the procession to the Osun Osogbo grove.

ALSO READ: PHOTO: Meet new Arugba Osun-Osogbo, nine-year-old Alimot Osunbunmi

As a result, Adesina, an Osun chief priest, carried the sacred calabash during the procession while Osunbunmi led the procession in his front to the grove.

Speaking with newsmen on the development, a traditionalist who identified himself as Olawale Osunfemi, said what happened was not unusual.

“It is not unusual. The likely reason may be due to the strength of the new Arugba,” he said,

Continuing, he corroborated Tribune Online findings, saying, “she is still a kid. Most probably, her strength could not cope with the weight of items for sacrifice to the river goddess that are put in the calabash.

 “She will grow up and begin to perform that function before long. It is a duty that is spiritually and physically demanding.”

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