Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove is the venue of the last procession during the annual Osun-Osogbo festival. The Grove is within a forest called Igbodun that houses the River Osun and the shrines of different Baba lawo, dieties and divinities. The grove also houses the shrine where the sacrifices are made to the goddess of Osun river. In 2005, Osun Osogbo Sacred grove was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1965 part of the grove was declared a national monument, this was extended in 1992 so that the entire area is protected. Susan Wenger (1915–2009), an artist from Austria led the advocacy to preserve the grove. When she arrived at Osogbo and discovered the settlement, she worked with locals and Oriki to interpret the inspirations she got while spending time inside Igbodun forest. She died in 2009 and was buried in the grove.
Within the forest are several small shrines built for several chief priests. The Osun Osogbo Sacred grove is dedicated to Oshun, the Yoruba goddess of fertility. On the road leading to the grove and the entrance of the grove are cravings on cement made by artists and each image depicts an ancient story about war, life, marriage, family and ancestry. Within the grove is the gate to the Oshun river and a bridge which connects the grove to the rest of the community. When crossing the bridge, it feels and seems like there is a dragging and pulling force from beneath you. The water that flows into Osun river travels from Eghede in Ekiti state but found rest and love in Osun state. The hunter called Olutimehin found the Diety and settled in this part of Osun state. To listen to Art X talk about the history, watch this video below.
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