Explore the Busanyin Shrine in 3D
Take a 3D virtual tour of an iconic shrine to see how climate change is affecting cultural heritage in Osun Osogbo, Nigeria
A forest sanctuary in Nigeria
Located in Central Nigeria, the Sacred Grove of Osun Osogbo is a forest sanctuary situated along the Osun River. This World Heritage site is home to over forty shrines and sculptures erected in honor of Osun, the goddess of fertility, and other West African deities that are part of the Yoruba pantheon.
Busanyin Shrine
The Busanyin shrine is one of eight iconic worship points within the Sacred Grove. In 2019 severe flooding and heavy rains compromised the shrine’s structural stability, resulting in significant damage to many of the delicate artworks within the shrine. This loss has been devastating to the local community, which cannot use the shrine safely.
Busanyin Shrine by CyArkCyArk
The Busanyin Shrine is located on the banks of the Osun River. The shrine is dedicated to the deity Ibu-Osanyin (Busanyin), a male hunter spirit who is the guardian of the knowledge of herbs and traditional medicines.
Priestess Efunsola Iya sings about Busanyin.
“…in Africa our documentation of our history and our past, most times are not done on paper by Africans themselves. The only evidence we have about our oral history are the antiquities, the artifacts, the monuments, and the sites.”
Due to the increased flooding within Osun, the pillars supporting the Busanyin Shrine weakened and the roof of the structure collapsed on its own weight.
As part of ongoing conservation efforts, various plans are being considered to help mitigate risk to the site. This includes constructing additional retaining walls (seen here) that feature natural masonry and stonework already found at the site.
