Embracing Ọdún Tuntun: The Yorùbá New Year Celebration

Note: While many recognize June 3rd as the Yorùbá New Year, some communities, such as in Osogbo, Nigeria, are observing it this year on June 5th. These local variations reflect the rich and diverse traditions within Yorùbá culture.

Every year between June 2nd and June 5th, the Yorùbá people of West Africa mark a moment of deep spiritual and cultural significance: Ọdún Tuntun, the Yorùbá New Year. According to the ancient Kọ́jọ́dá calendar, we are stepping into the 10,067th year, a timeline that stretches far beyond the Gregorian system known globally today.

What makes this celebration so powerful is not just its age it is the wisdom, rituals, and communal spirit that have endured across centuries, lands, and oceans.

Ọdún Tuntun, meaning “New Year,” is more than just a date. It serves as a spiritual gateway and marks a time for:

• Cleansing the old year’s energies• Honoring the Òrìṣà (deities) and ancestors• Seeking guidance through Ifá divination• Renewing personal and communal intentions

During this time, families gather, lamps are lit, prayers are offered, and sacred offerings are made to deities such as Òrúnmìlà, the custodian of wisdom, and Èṣù, the divine messenger.

Rituals and Celebrations

At the heart of the New Year is the sacred practice of Ifá divination. Babaláwos (priests) cast sacred instruments, such as ikin or ọ̀pèlè, to reveal the Odu Ifá for the year — spiritual messages that offer guidance, caution, and blessings for the months ahead.

For four days, lamps made with palm oil or shea butter burn steadily, symbolizing illumination, purification, and the welcoming of divine energies. Throughout the communities, the sound of drums resonates, calling forth the spirits of the land, sky, and waters.

Children, elders, and community members adorn themselves in traditional attire — rich àdìrẹ fabrics, beaded jewelry, coral, and cowrie shells reconnecting with ancestral identity and showcasing the beauty of Yorùbá craftsmanship.

A Global Celebration

Beyond Nigeria, the celebration of Ọdún Tuntun carries great meaning across the African diaspora.

In the United States, the renowned Odunde Festival in Philadelphia gathers tens of thousands of African Americans to honor their roots in African spirituality. In Brazil and Cuba, where traditions such as Candomblé and Santería are practiced, echoes of the Yorùbá calendar and its sacred timing are honored in vibrant local ceremonies, demonstrating the enduring strength of cultural survival across the Atlantic.

A Personal Reflection

As we step into Ọdún 10,067, I reflect deeply on the resilience of African traditions. Despite centuries of colonial disruption, the Yorùbá calendar endures a living testament to indigenous timekeeping, cosmic knowledge, and sacred practice.

For me, Ọdún Tuntun offers a profound invitation to pause, renew, and realign. It calls me to honor my Ori, my inner head and destiny, to seek wisdom from Ifá, and to walk into the new year with mindfulness and purpose.

Conclusion: Preserving Cultural Wisdom

In today’s fast-moving world, the rhythms of Ọdún Tuntun remind us to slow down, listen with intention, and honor the past as we shape the future. Whether you are in Nigeria, part of the diaspora, or simply drawn to African spiritual traditions, this celebration offers a moment to root yourself in timeless wisdom.

As the Yorùbá say:

“Ọdún ayọ̀, Ọdún àlàáfíà” — A year of joy, a year of peace.

Recommended Readings and Resources

Recommended Readings and Resources

• The History of the Yorùbá People — Stephen Adebanji Akintoye

• Ọdún in Yorùbá Religious Tradition — Jacob K. Olupona

• Odunde Festival — Learn more about this major African American celebration inspired by Yorùbá traditions

• UNESCO Intangible Heritage: Ifá Divination System — Documentation on Ifá as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity

Are you ready to deepen your connection to Yorùbá spirituality and ancestral wisdom?

We invite you to join us at Ogunderin Temple as we celebrate, learn, and grow together in the new year. Follow our journey, explore educational offerings, or participate in upcoming spiritual events.

Visit OgundaOnisese.com to stay updated, sign up for newsletters, or connect with our vibrant community.

Let us walk this sacred path together honoring the past, embracing the present, and shaping a powerful future.