For 2025 annual Osun-Osogbo Cultural Festival, where a male carried the symbolic white calabash called ‘Igba Osun’, a duty usually performed by a votary maid.

The Arugba Osun role is played by a female virgin from the royal family in the town that must have been chosen by the Ifa oracle.

Alimot Osunbunmi was recently selected as the new Arugba Osun to replace Osuntomi Ewatomilola, who performed the duty for about 12 years.

Sources close to Ile Osun, located inside the Ataoja’s palace, who craved anonymity, however, told The Punch that the Osun Chief Priest, identified simply as Adesina, carried the calabash rather than giving it to Osunbunmi, who was performing the duty for the first time.

When the procession that accompanied Arugba arrived at Osun grove, Adesina was the one who carried the calabash, while Osunbunmi walked in front of them.

It could not be immediately ascertained why the votary maid did not carry the calabash, as it is usually done.

But a traditionalist, Olawale Osunfemi, while explaining the possible cause, said “It is not unusual. The likely reason may be due to the strength of the new Arugba.

“She is still a kid. Most probably, her strength could not cope with the weight of items for sacrifice to the river goddess that are put in the calabash.”

He continued, “She will grow up and begin to perform that function before long. It is a duty that is spiritually and physically demanding.”