Discover Ojúbọ Òṣogbo - the Main Ọ̀ṣun Shrine
The main shrine in the Sacred Groves of Òṣogbo dedicated to the goddess Ọ̀ṣun
Walls, Gate and Stairs leading to Ojúbọ ÒṣogboAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Guarding the entrance to the Ọ̀ṣun shrine
A giant tree and the imposing stone sculpture of Èṣù, the divine messenger, by Buraimoh Gbadamosi.
Walls, Gate and Stairs leading to Ojúbọ ÒṣogboAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Devotees descend to the shrine through three open gates
The decorative wall is one of the earliest examples of New Sacred Art in the groves.
Walls, Gate and Stairs leading to Ojúbọ ÒṣogboAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
The three gates
As seen from the inside.
Ojúbọ ÒṣogboAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Ojúbọ Òṣogbo - the main Ọ̀ṣun shrine
The Ọ̀ṣun shrine is dedicated to the goddess Ọ̀ṣun. It is the central place of worship in the groves and is sometimes called “The First Palace”, which is a reference to the myth of the creation of the town of Òṣogbo.
Ojúbọ Òṣogbo as seen from aboveAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Ojúbọ Òṣogbo
The shrine is rectangular in shape, with many sculpted pillars supporting the roof, representing the recreative aspect of Ọ̀ṣun: birth, decline, decay and rebirth.
Ojúbọ ÒṣogboAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
The Ọ̀ṣun shrine
This was the first shrine within the groves that the Ọ̀ṣun priests and priestesses asked Susanne Wenger to rebuild in 1960, as it had been infested by white ants and had nearly totally collapsed.
Ojúbọ ÒṣogboAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Entrance to the inner sanctum
The entry features wooden posts and stone sculptures carved by New Sacred Art Movement artist Buraimoh Gbadamosi and cement sculptures of deities and devotees created by Saka Aremu.
Ojúbọ ÒṣogboAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Extensive shrine paintings
The outer and inner walls are highly decorated with wall paintings, originally created by the only two female New Sacred Art Movement artists, Foyeke Ajoke and Songo Tundun.
Ojúbọ Òṣogbo (2019) by CyArkAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Ojúbọ Òṣogbo
Video by CyArk
Ojúbọ ÒṣogboAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
The inner sanctum
Devotees come to the shrine throughout the year to consult with Ọ̀ṣun priests and priestesses and to make offerings to the goddess.
Ojúbọ ÒṣogboAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Major repairs
Extensive repair works were urgently needed in 2019.
The shrine had deteriorated again over the decades and extensive restoration was carried out in 2019, led by Sangodare Ajala, leader of the New Sacred Art Movement and the restoration team. Adebisi Nurudeen was the lead restoration artist assisted by Adeyemi Oseni and Raimi Taofik.
The restoration team at work in 2019 - Adebisi Nurudeen, Adeyemi Oseni and Raimi Taofik were the lead restoration artists.
Ọ̀ṣun FestivalOriginal Source: Adunni Olorisha Trust/ Osun Foundation
The Ọ̀ṣun Shrine
The shrine is also the destination of the procession - the highlight of the annual Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo Festival, which attracts many thousands of visitors locally and from all over the world.
Ojúbọ Òṣogbo : The Main Ọ̀ṣun Shrine (1960) by Susanne Wenger and NSA artistsOriginal Source: Adunni Olorisha Trust/ Osun Foundation
A shrine for a global future
Ọ̀ṣun brings together òrìṣà devotees and people of Yorùbá and African descent from the Caribbean, Brazil, America, West Africa and from around the world.
VIDEOS
CyArk
PHOTOGRAPHY
AOT/F Collection
CyArk
Gerhard Merzeder
Helmuth Wienerroither
Judith Haeser
Wolfgang Denk
'Quotes' in the text are all by Susanne Wenger unless stated otherwise.
With special thanks to the Tolaram Group Plc., Lafarge Africa Plc., and Femi Akinsanya for their assistance in the restoration of the Shrine.
Find out more about the AOT/F’s work by visiting our
website www.aot.aof.org
Your donations will support our continuing efforts to maintain and restore the works of art in the Sacred Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo Groves, thank you.
