In the Yoruba culture, the Sango Festival is an annual celebration that is held in honour of Sango, who is regarded as a thunder and fire deity who was a warrior, king of the first Oyo Empire, and who succeeded Ajaka to become the third king after he was assassinated. World Sango Festival was renamed by the government of the state of Oyo in 2013 from the Oyo State Sango Festival. Every year, the Alaafin of Oyo celebrates this festival at his palace in the month of August, and it is also observed in over forty countries all around the world.
There is a festival known as the Sango Festival, which dates back thousands of years and is believed to be the result of Sango's departure from the Oyo people in 700 AD. Many people regard Sango as the founder of the Oyo people.
The Oyo Empire was ruled by Sango, a prominent magician and strong ruler, who succeeded his elder brother, who was regarded as weak. According to various mythical stories, Sango's death was linked to different mythical events that occurred during his reign of the Oyo Empire. During the time when he reigned, the people were believed to have enjoyed prosperity as a result of his reign. According to legend, a powerful chief of Sango's ordered him to give up his throne so that he would not be humiliated by him and his fellow powerful chiefs, and Sango took his own life by hanging himself. With such a powerful leadership, Sango was considered to have reigned for only seven years as the King over Oyo, but he was recognized as the best monarch ever in the history of Oyo rulers because he demonstrated such a powerful leadership. Following consultations with the Yemoja priest and the Sango priest, the Ayabas, wives of the King, made a boast of how they prevented rain from falling during the 2021 festival. It is also said that the festival starts with Iwure Agba, which is a ritual prayer that is led by a priest of Sango that is said to be the first prayer of the elders.
The Oyo state government in 2019, initiated a series of programs that will harness the value of the Sango culture to create financial prosperity for the people of Oyo. He added through the commissioner of culture and tradition that the art of Sango will be used as foreign exchange to generate revenue for the state.
https://old.oyostate.gov.ng/sango-festival-oyo-govt-harps-on-culture-as-foreign-exchange-source/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sango_Festival