The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, has presented the UNESCO certificate officially recognizing the Sango Festival as a World Heritage Festival to the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abimbola Abdulhakeem Owoade I.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, has presented the UNESCO certificate officially recognizing the Sango Festival as a World Heritage Festival to the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abimbola Abdulhakeem Owoade I.
The presentation took place at the grand finale of the 2025 World Sango Festival in Oyo, attracting dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond.
Musawa described the recognition as a milestone in Nigeria’s cultural journey, noting that it would boost heritage preservation and tourism.
“We celebrate not just a festival, but a legacy,” the Minister said. “Following collaboration between the Ministry and the Oyo community, the Sango Festival has now attained global recognition with its inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This milestone firmly places Sango’s rich heritage on the world stage and underscores its importance as a shared global heritage.”
She added that the recognition aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by leveraging Nigeria’s cultural wealth to drive sustainable tourism, employment, and wealth creation.
Oba Owoade, in his response, commended the Federal Government for the recognition, describing it as “a victory not just for Oyo but for the entire Yoruba nation.”
“We are grateful to President Tinubu and the Ministry for their renewed commitment to culture and heritage. The Oyo Kingdom will continue to work closely with government to ensure that Nigeria’s cultural identity remains strong and visible globally,” the Alaafin said.
The Sango Festival, one of Africa’s most vibrant cultural celebrations, has long been a unifying event for Yoruba people and attracts visitors from around the world. With the UNESCO inscription, cultural stakeholders say the festival is now set to play a greater role in tourism and international diplomacy.