By Sunday Ani
President and Founder of Omo Yoruba Niwa, Olaseni Bokini, has frowned at the attempt by a company, Our Heritage Branding and Advertising Ltd., to patent the Osun-Osogbo Festival, emphasising that the festival is an embodiment of Yoruba heritage, identity and spiritually and should never be patented.
He described it as a significant cultural and spiritual event celebrated annually in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria, saying: “It holds immense importance for the Yoruba people and the global community that appreciates indigenous traditions.
This festival, which venerates the river goddess Osun, is not merely a series of rituals and celebrations but a profound embodiment of Yoruba heritage, identity, and spirituality.”
He said the attempt by the advertising firm to patent the Osun-Osogbo festival was an affront to the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people, and raises critical ethical and legal concerns as well.
He blamed the mastermind of the attempt, saying: “This move, led by Wilson Chibututu who is not a Yoruba, and Oyindamola Olukanni who should know better about the festival, but unfortunately does not, is perceived as an affront to the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people and raises critical ethical and legal concerns.”
Speaking further on the cultural essence of the festival, he said: “The Osun-Osogbo festival is more than just a cultural event; it is a spiritual journey that connects the present with the past. For centuries, it has been a time when devotees and visitors gather to honour Osun, seek blessings, and celebrate the renewal of their commitments to the Orisha and the community. It involves a series of sacred rituals, including the lighting of the 16-point lamp (Atupa Olojumerindinlogun), the Ibo-Osun divination ceremony, and the grand procession to the Osun Sacred Grove, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation World Heritage Site.”
He said the festival is not just a local event but a global cultural treasure that draws people from different parts of the world, contributing significantly to cultural tourism and the local economy.
“Its intangible cultural heritage status underscores the need to preserve its authenticity and accessibility for future generations,” he said.
On the inappropriateness of patenting the festival, he also said: “Patenting the Osun-Osogbo festival as a brand is not only inappropriate but also ethically questionable. Cultural heritage, particularly one as deeply rooted in spiritual and communal values as the Osun-Osogbo festival, should remain in the public domain, accessible to all who wish to partake in its significance. The commercialisation of such an important cultural event through patenting undermines the essence of what the festival represents.
“The attempt to patent the festival commodifies Yoruba heritage, transforming a sacred tradition into a commercial entity. This act is an insult to the Yoruba people who have preserved and cherished this heritage for generations. It disregards the communal ownership of cultural heritage and the spiritual dimensions that cannot be captured through a commercial lens.”
He also noted that intellectual property and Osun-Osogbo were an incompatible combination, because according to him introducing intellectual property rights into the realm of cultural and spiritual practices like the Osun-Osogbo festival is not just a misstep but a form of cultural barbarism.
“Intellectual property laws are designed to protect individual innovations and creations but are inherently unsuitable for governing collective and sacred traditions.
“By imposing intellectual property frameworks on such practices, we risk turning culturally and spiritually significant events into commodities subject to legal restrictions and commercial interests. This act of patenting a festival as profound and communal as Osun-Osogbo disregards the intrinsic values of collective heritage, reducing it to a mere commercial asset,” he said.
He also noted that patenting the festival would raise several ethical challenges. He called for the immediate reversal of any patent granted on the Osun-Osogbo festival, insisting the festival is a testament to the rich cultural and spiritual legacy of the Yoruba people.
“It must be preserved and protected as a public heritage, free from commercial exploitation. We urge all stakeholders to take immediate action to reverse this patent and safeguard the cultural and spiritual treasures of our world,” he said.