The Osun Sacred Grove is a dense forest covering an area of 75 hectares on the outskirts of the city of Osogbo in Osun State along the Osun River. It is believed to be the home of Osun (the Yoruba orisha of fertility) is dotted with sanctuaries and shrines,
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Sculptures and art works in her honour. The sacred Grove, seen as a symbol of identity for all Yoruba people, is the last in Yoruba culture – a testimonial to the once widespread practice of establishing sacred groves outside settlements.
Inside the Grove
The Grove contains forty shrines and several sculptures and art works erected in honour of Osun
and other Yoruba deities. It has five main sacred divisions associated with different gods and cults.
The Grove contains forty shrines and several sculptures and art works erected in honour of Osun
and other Yoruba deities. It has five main sacred divisions associated with different gods and cults.
There are nine worship points – with designated priests and priestesses – along the length of the Osun River
The Grove is also home to over 400 species of plants, of which more than 200 are known for their medicinal uses.
The Grove is also home to over 400 species of plants, of which more than 200 are known for their medicinal uses.
The Grove is a sacred place for the whole of Yorubaland and a symbol of identity for the wider Yoruba Diaspora, a fact emphasised by its twentieth-century restoration.
The Grove was named a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site in 2005. It is also part of the National Tourism Development Master Plan established with the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
@olubunmi_J
@olubunmi_J
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