The Lagos State Government has declared Thursday, August 20, 2026, a work-free day to enable residents and visitors to participate in activities marking this year’s Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day celebration.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to Aregbe, the decision is aimed at giving Lagos residents the opportunity to take part fully in the celebration, which is expected to draw more than three million traditional worshippers.
He described Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day as a significant cultural occasion rather than merely a public holiday, noting its importance to Yoruba spirituality and heritage.
“Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
Aregbe said the Yoruba people, estimated to number more than 55 million worldwide, had continued to preserve their traditions and transmit them to younger generations.
He added that the preservation of Yoruba culture had helped sustain Ìṣẹ̀ṣe celebrations in countries including Cuba, Brazil and parts of the Caribbean, where Yoruba descendants reside.
“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,” Aregbe said.
Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day concludes a week-long series of traditional activities and has been observed as a work-free day in Lagos since 2023, following a request by the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has continued the practice as part of his administration’s efforts to promote indigenous values and religious inclusiveness under the THEMES+ Agenda.
Aregbe commended the governor for supporting the celebration and also acknowledged traditional rulers and custodians of Yoruba heritage for their role in preserving the culture.
“We thank His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. It takes real conviction for a leader to stand publicly with heritage, and he has done so without hesitation and without apology,” he said.
He also recognised the contributions of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I, traditional chiefs, Babaláwo, Ìyánífá, Olóòrìṣà and other custodians of Yoruba traditions.
“Governments come and go. Custodians carry the culture,” Aregbe said.
The 2026 celebration will feature prayers, rituals, processions, drumming and cultural displays dedicated to the Òrìṣà.
The activities will be coordinated by the Association of African Traditional Religion Nigeria and Overseas.
Aregbe urged participants to observe the celebration peacefully and respectfully, saying it was designed to foster cultural pride and unity.
“Three million voices rising in honour of tradition is not noise. It is history, faith and cultural pride in harmony,” he said.
He added, “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.”
