The annual Osun-Osogbo festival in Nigeria has been and gone, but it is inevitable that next year will bring the recurring topic of corporate sponsorship and its increasingly larger role in this 600 year old ritual that pays homage to the Yoruba Orisha (Goddess) of the Osun River. One of the sponsors, the phone company MTN has previously defended its involvement to be driven by corporate social responsibility (CSR) as opposed to a marketing strategy. Hmm, not convinced. But it is the quote by the promotions manager of Seaman’s Schnapps – the self-acclaimed “number 1 original prayer drink” – that left me speechless. So much so that this may be my shortest pensive post to date.
“When they use Seaman’s, over time [for libations], it has been proved that it serves as a conveyor of original blessings for them….When they use this drink, it delivers their expectations.”
Source with slideshow and video clip.
Clearly there is a trade-off here for the festival organisers to contend with simply because:
No money = No festival
No festival = The regrettable demise of a popular, age-old tradition
A seemingly frustrated and now resigned curator of the grove said
“I like the money that comes in and makes the festival happen. But the money will bring in negative impacts, they will say: ‘We need some hotels here’, or ‘Let’s have rest areas here, fast food joints’, and before you know it they are taking down trees for a car park. It will happen, just watch.”
What’s next, McDonalds? Osun forbid.
More about the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a personal account of attendance of the festival here and here.
5 Comments
6 December, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Pls Osun Oshogbo Festival for the year 2009 will be when.
thanks
A.A. JOSHUA
10 December, 2008 at 5:33 pm
As an American initiated priestess of Osun, having attended the Festival in 2006 and 2008, i can understand your frustration. My husband and i have a nonprofit cultural center that seeks to bridge the cultural divides, we document the people and culture of Osogbo. When most indigenous people live on $1.00 a day, and most politicians steal all of the money that comes to Osogbo to fix the roads, repair the Grove, etc. It is a more complicated problem than you may be aware of. It is difficult for us to view these things outside of our western, privilege. You need to meet many of the traditional priests and priestesses who use their own money to support the community that use the grove for their indigenous practices. There are the children of Susan Wenger who with associated artists would like to repair the sculptures in the Grove, but are prevented because they are not members of the ruling power, be it class, religious or cultural. I work with the locals to promote the truth of the culture, hoping to raise funds to help them at that level…the give them clout in the city, to give them respect so they have the political clout to have a say in the grove.
I am glad there are sponors to pay off the big wigs. It may keep them off the backs of the keepers of the traditions.
My solution, is to start a school, teach the people how to use video cameras….let them tell there own stories!
Yeye Siju Osunyemi
Priestess of Osun
10 December, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Osunyemi: Thanks so much for your insight – much appreciated to hear what it’s really like on the ground. I certainly do not presume to present a comprehensive picture of what is a complex situation. My specific criticism was what in my eyes was inappropriate advertising for an alcoholic beverage that may be used for libations. That said, I appreciate your view that sponsorship is needed and that nothing is black or white but various shades of grey. Thanks for stopping by. I will send you an e-mail – I would certainly like to hear more about the work you are doing in Nigeria. I love the idea of the people telling their stories – it’s a priceless endeavour.
11 December, 2008 at 8:28 pm
thanks, looking forward to your email.
by the way gin/oti is part of every traditional gathering. Many of the Orisa requeste in in libations and venerations. They have to buy it…so it is okay that some of the money comes back to them….at least until they can manufacture their own gin!
Osunyemi
5 February, 2009 at 1:56 am
A.A. Joshua: I sent you an e-mail but didn’t hear back. I don’t have an exact date, but have noted from a reliable source, namely Osunyemi, that it will be in August 2009. You may want to check out her website http://www.osunpriestess.com/