Southern Nigeria, Lagos City and Yoruba culture / 6 days March 2026
*This trip ties in with the Durbar festival trip in northern Nigeria.
Trip to Nigeria with a focus on Yoruba culture and Lagos
In this short but intense trip through southern Nigeria we focus on the Yoruba culture, which we will delve into by attending different ceremonies.
The Yoruba people, one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, are concentrated in the southwest of the country. More than 20 million Yoruba live mainly in Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. With a powerful and ancient culture, attending their festivals and ceremonies is one of the major attractions of any trip to Nigeria.
Visiting Lagos, Nigeria’s big city
Lagos, one of the most fascinating cities in Africa, mixes modernity and tradition with luxury and misery. Lagos is extreme and we love it. One of those extreme places in Makoko.
Makoko “criminals” as the police nicknamed them, is a slam built on water. Some 200,000 people struggle daily to get by in very harsh conditions. This is a part of the city that the authorities do not want you to see, indeed it is possible that the government will soon dismantle it. Contrary to what some “sensationalist Youtubers” headline, the people are nice and it is not a dangerous place for the traveler at all.
Fela Kuti and the Afrobeat
Fela Kuti’s life is fascinating, musically he was the creator of Afrobeat and politically he was a tireless activist denouncing corruption and inequalities. That led him to have his mother killed by the police. On a personal level, he was a man with a very unique sentimental history. His house museum collects his story in an interesting visit. Maybe we can find his old band The Egypt 80 rehearsing on the premises.
Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove
Osun Sacred Grove: Considered the abode of the fertility goddess Osun, one of the Yoruba deities of the pantheon, the landscape of the grove and its meandering river is dotted with shrines, altars, sculptures and artwork honoring Osun and other deities. The sacred grove, now considered a symbol of identity for the entire Yoruba people, is probably the last of the Yoruba culture. This place is included in the UNESCO
The priestesses of Erinle
In Abeokuta and other parts of Ogun State, Erinle is a highly revered goddess. Erinle has only female priestesses, no male priest is allowed to worship her. These priestesses are characterised in ceremonies by wearing clay pots on their heads. We will attend a traditional ceremony
Egungun in Nigeria
Egungun is a visible manifestation of the spirits of departed ancestors who periodically revisit the human community for remembrance, celebration and blessings. It is a unique cultural tradition practiced by the Yoruba of Nigeria and Benin. We will attend an impressive Egungun ceremony.
Ceremony Sango, the God of Fire
Sango, the storm god, was the fourth king of Oyo. He was a tyrannical and powerful man, so extravagant that he is said to expel clouds of fire and smoke from his mouth. Perhaps this is why his followers perform powerful ceremonies and display their powers with fire and metals. We will attend a Sango ceremony
Abekouta’s colonial architectural heritage
Walking around Abekouta is certainly interesting as one of the most striking attributes of this fascinating city is its imposing architecture, with structures that have stood for decades and reflect a rich cultural history. Notably, many of these buildings exhibit Afro-Brazilian influences, displaying a blend of traditional Yoruba and colonial architectural forms.
Highlights of this trip to southern Nigeria
- We will explore Makoko by boat, the impressive floating suburb of Lagos.
- Learn about the history and life of Fela Kuti, creator of Afrobeat and political activist, at his house museum in Lagos.
- Visit the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove (UNESCO), a forest sacred to the Yoruba people filled with impressive temples and sculptures.
- Sango Ceremony in Osogbo
- Ceremony Erinle in Abekuta
- Ceremony Egungun in Abekouta
- Architecture heritage in Abekouta
