Entertainment
5 Cultural Festivals to Look Forward to in Ekiti this August
Ekiti isn’t just the land of scholars, it’s a cultural stronghold, rich in heritage that deserves front-row seats on the national and international tourism stage. As August ushers in vacation energy, the state comes alive with festivals that honour the past, celebrate community, and welcome you into the heart of Yoruba tradition. If you’ve ever craved a soulful, story-soaked getaway, these five cultural events are calling your name.
Usi Day, Usi-Ekiti – August 2nd
2025 Usi Day Celebration
Usi Day is more than a festival—it’s a heartfelt homecoming. Since its inception in 1980, this celebration has become a powerful reunion of Usi descendants and admirers from across the globe. Held in Ido/Osi Local Government, the week-long festival from July 28th, 2025 culminating on August 2nd, 2025—features educational seminars, cultural parades, and entertainment that fuse old-world customs with modern flair. It’s a time for reflection, unity, and renewal of commitment to the town’s progress. Whether you’re a native or simply drawn to community-driven culture, Usi Day invites you to witness heritage in full bloom.
Ogun Onire Cultural Festival, Ire-Ekiti – August 11th
2025 Ogun Onire Festival
The Ogun Onire Festival in Ire-Ekiti is a mystical tribute to Ogun, the Yoruba deity of iron and war, who legend says disappeared into the earth right in this town. Marked by powerful rituals, offerings, and age-grade performances, this year edition is stipulated for August 11th, it promises to transform the town into a sacred stage of spiritual energy and ancestral storytelling as usual. Visitors are drawn in by the deep symbolism, the ram sacrifices, the priestly chants, and the communal feasting. If you’re seeking a cultural experience that connects mythology with living tradition, this is one event you’ll want to mark in your August travel plans.
Ita Ajero Cultural Festival, Ijero-Ekiti – August 18th
2025 Ita Ajero Festival
Crowning days of masquerade worship and spiritual spectacle, the Ita Ajero Festival on August 18 offers a royal climax steeped in centuries of tradition. Led by Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, the Ajero of Ijero, the festival includes royal processions, ancestral rituals, and the blessing of the revered Egungun Aje—whose sacred cane is said to bestow healing and fortune. With over 500 masquerades in attendance, the town becomes a living canvas of Yoruba cosmology. If the fusion of royalty, ritual, and raw cultural energy excites you, Ijero’s call this August is not to be missed.
Ekiti International Theatre Festival – Ado-Ekiti, August 20–25
2025 Ekiti International Theatre Festival
Lights, culture, action! From August 20 to 25, Ado-Ekiti will play host to the inaugural Ekiti International Theatre Festival—an electrifying blend of heritage and modern performance. Featuring stage greats like Prof. Ahmed Yerima and a new play on the iconic Hubert Ogunde, the five-day event at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic Centre promises theatrical brilliance, an arts exhibition on Nigerian theatre evolution, and concerts that could shake the city. Organisers expect a crowd of 200,000, with economic ripples in tourism, hospitality, and culture. For creatives, wanderers, and heritage lovers, this is your backstage pass to Ekiti’s rising cultural capital.
Udiroko Festival, Ado-Ekiti – August 21st
2025 Udiroko Festival
Every August 21, the people of Ado-Ekiti gather for Udiroko Festival—their new year’s day in the traditional calendar and a moment rooted in over 700 years of history. Once a war-time debrief under a sacred iroko tree, the event now radiates regal splendour. The Ewi of Ado delivers a community address from the throne, followed by colourful age-grade parades, music, and communal thanksgiving. It’s not just a cultural spectacle—it’s a declaration of identity, pride, and purpose. For anyone yearning to witness history come alive through pageantry and vision, Udiroko offers a front-row seat to something unforgettable.
If you’ve ever had a friend who held you down through thick, thin and every broke moment in between, Yemi Alade just dropped your new anthem. Her latest single “My Padi” is more than a song. It’s a love letter to that one person who never switched up and the visuals take that message straight to the heart.
The video lands soft but hits hard. No flashy scenes, no distractions. Just Yemi in a lit room, a lone mic dangling from the ceiling and lyrics that speak volumes. From “I dey for you” to “Your enemy na my enemy,” every line feels like a warm hug wrapped in rhythm. She’s not preaching perfection, she’s singing realness. And in a world full of fake smiles and follower counts, that honesty is a breath of fresh air.
This isn’t your regular bestie goals track. “My Padi” is about the ones who don’t post you online but pull up in real life. The kind that sticks around when it’s not convenient, celebrates your wins louder than you and shows up without needing an invite. Whether it’s Puerto Rico or Okokomaiko, Yemi reminds us that real friendship isn’t about proximity. It’s about presence.
True to form, Yemi Alade doesn’t just sing songs. She creates moments. And this one? It’s for every loyal friend who deserves a thank you, a toast and a track that says “I see you.”
So if someone came to mind while reading this, don’t just smile. Send them this song. Let “My Padi” say the words your chest might be too shy to.
Toyin Abraham One Colour Outfits
Nollywood star, Toyin Abraham is turning heads with a fresh style streak: five back-to-back outfits in just one colour each. From bold black to bright lime green, she’s proving that dressing in a single shade can be anything but boring.
This isn’t your usual red carpet show-off. Toyin is keeping it sharp, clean, and focused — no clashing prints, no busy extras. Just one colour, head to toe, and she’s owning every look. With her new film Iyalode landing in cinemas this Friday, June 6, the timing feels deliberate. She’s not just promoting a movie; she’s setting a whole vibe.
Twice, she showed up in black — and both times looked completely different. One was red-carpet sleek, the other had boss energy. Then came the crisp white, the rich gold, and finally, a shock of lime green that made everyone do a double take. Each outfit felt like a fresh chapter in the same stylish story.
Toyin’s approach is simple: pick a colour, wear it like you mean it. And that’s exactly what makes it powerful. She’s not hiding behind trends or hype — she’s building a signature. One that reminds us confidence is louder than any accessory.
While other celebs play it safe or overdo it, Toyin is showing that sometimes, one colour is all you need to stand out.
Have a feel of it from her Instagram handle below:
@tavinstoresbytiwabola Photo @nikankonxeptsstudios Makeup @bernards_magic”.
Stylist: @medlinboss
Outfit: @medlincouturecollection
Makeup: @tolufelix_mua
Hair stylist: @slayedbyajey
Photography: @felixcrown”.
Makeup @bernards_magic Hair stylist @ghair_luxe Photo @nikankonxeptsstudios”.
Nigerian music heavyweights Johnny Drille and Fireboy DML have joined forces to release a love-soaked single, Angelina, marking Drille’s first solo track of the year and already setting the tone for a season of romance. The Mavin Records talent teams up with YBNL’s soulful voice in a duet that blends delicate storytelling with irresistible harmonies, offering fans a refreshing dose of vulnerability, charm, and humour.
After the reflective tones of his collaborative EP Hard Guy Confessions with Don Jazzy, Johnny Drille returns with Angelina, a track that wastes no time in drawing listeners into a world of pure affection. From the first verse, both singers lay their emotions bare. The lyrics are drenched in longing and admiration, with each word painting a portrait of a woman so captivating, her presence feels like healing. Angelina isn’t just the name of a love interest. She’s an experience — magnetic, gentle, unforgettable.
Drille and Fireboy take turns expressing their admiration, blending voices in a way that feels effortless yet intimate. With poetic lines that speak of deep yearning and the kind of love that humbles even the most guarded hearts, Angelina moves beyond mere infatuation. It feels lived-in, familiar, and tender. The production is understated, letting the vocals take centre stage, while soft strings and ambient chords support the storytelling.
The accompanying music video adds another layer of relatability. Set in a regular shopping mall, it opens with Johnny Drille spotting a woman who instantly catches his attention. Instead of a cliché chase or dramatic gesture, he does something quietly romantic — he follows her with his gaze, singing his verses as she shops, his admiration growing with each passing second. When she reaches the counter, he steps in with a simple offer: to pay for her groceries. She accepts graciously, flashing a soft smile before walking away. What follows is a hilarious twist. Johnny Drille, now faced with the bill, can’t hide the shock as the cashier hands over the total. His wide-eyed stare, caught on camera, brings a wave of humour that grounds the story in everyday reality. It’s a rare combination — heart and humour, perfectly balanced.
Fireboy DML’s contribution takes the track up a notch. His voice wraps around the lyrics with a kind of smooth urgency, as though he too is trying to win over Angelina, or perhaps protect her from the pain of an unrequited world. It’s a performance full of warmth and intent, further confirming why he remains one of Nigeria’s most compelling vocalists.
At its core, Angelina works because it doesn’t try too hard. It doesn’t need gimmicks or high drama to make its point. It rests comfortably in sincerity. Both artists approach the song with openness, crafting a piece that resonates with anyone who has ever been stunned into silence by someone’s presence, or laughed at themselves for falling too hard, too fast.
In an industry often driven by fast beats and fleeting moments, Johnny Drille and Fireboy DML have delivered something different. Something personal. And in doing so, they’ve proven once again that in Nigerian music, emotion still holds power. Whether you’re in love, out of love, or somewhere in between, Angelina will strike a chord.
As the video racks up views and the track climbs streaming charts, one thing is clear. Angelina is not just another love song. It’s a reminder that the softest moments often leave the loudest echoes. And with artists like Johnny Drille and Fireboy DML at the helm, Nigerian love songs are in very good hands.
Watch the Video Below:
Ekiti Disburses N234m to 142 Women Groups Under NFWP-SU Federal Programme
More than 25,000 women in Ekiti State are set to benefit from a major economic empowerment initiative after the Federal...
APC Primary Controversy Sparks Fresh Debate in Ekiti North
A political analyst and APC stakeholder, Elder Adigun Otaomokunola, has raised concerns over the conduct of the All Progressives Congress...
Venite University College of Law Opens Academic Recruitment Exercise
Venite University, Iloro-Ekiti, has opened applications for a wide range of academic positions within its College of Law, calling on...
FoodBank4u Changes How Ibadan Families Shop for Groceries
Thousands of households in Ibadan are increasingly turning to online grocery delivery as rising traffic congestion, long market queues and...
Ekiti Inclusion Reforms Draw National Attention at Lagos Conference
Ekiti State’s disability inclusion and special education reforms received national recognition at the 2026 National Inclusion Conference in Lagos, where...
Ekiti Students Demand Release of Former EKSU Union Leader, Sugarito
Tension spread across the student community in Ekiti State on Friday as students and stakeholders demanded the immediate release of...
Hon. Dapo Kolawole Donates N10m as BAO Campaign Storms Ijero-Ekiti After N25m Constituency Grant
Hon. Dapo Kolawole on Monday donated N10 million on behalf of the Iloro-Ekiti community to support the re-election campaign of...
Fayemi Celebrates Fasoranti at 100, Calls Him Moral Voice of Yoruba Nation
Former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has described Afenifere leader, Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, as a towering symbol of integrity and...
Owolabi Clears Screening for Ekiti North Senatorial Race
Otunba Oluwadare Owolabi, popularly known as Ìràwò Òwúrò, has cleared the screening process ahead of the forthcoming elections in Ekiti...
Ekiti 2027: Barr Kolade Picks APC Form for Reps Contest
Barrister Victor Olumuyiwa Kolade has formally entered the race for the Ekiti Central Constituency II seat in the House of...
-
Trending News8 months agoAPC Chieftain, Mobolaji Adeyeye Rallies Ekiti Members Ahead of October 27 Primary, Endorses Oyebanji for Second Term
-
Trending News1 year agoWizkid Cautions Lookalike, Gifts Him ₦40 Million to Build His Own Identity
-
Trending News8 months agoAkinlayo Hails Tinubu’s Leadership, Rallies Support for Oyebanji as Nigeria Turns 65, Ekiti 29
-
Trending News1 year agoLent 2025 Begins Today with Ash Wednesday
-
Trending News1 year agoHon. Akinlayo Disburses ₦15M, Promotes 90 Aides to Personal Assistants
-
Trending News9 months agoMobolaji Adeyeye Calls on APC Members to Uphold Democracy & Progressive Values Ahead of Ekiti Primary Election
-
Trending News10 months agoEkiti TESCOM invites shortlisted candidates for oral interview and micro teaching in August 2025
-
Trending News10 months agoBREAKING: Lizzy Anjorin’s Former Publicist Exposes Her as Manipulative, Secretive and Obsessively Calculated
Suberu Fatimoh
July 29, 2025 at 8:46 am
Awesome. Looking forward to these festivals especially Usi Day. I’m proud to be a daughter of Usi Ekiti.