State: Osun

Osun State sits in Nigeria’s southwest, with Osogbo as its capital. It was formed on 27 August 1991 from the southeastern part of Oyo State.

The state borders Ekiti and Ondo to the east, Kwara to the north, Ogun to the south, and Oyo to the west.

Yoruba subgroups make up nearly the whole population, chiefly the Ibolo, Ife, Igbomina, Ijesha, and Oyo peoples, each tied to different towns across the state.

Cocoa remains the leading cash crop, alongside cassava, millet, cashew, banana, maize, potato, and yam. Artisanal mining and livestock herding add smaller streams of income in various parts of the state.

The Osun-Osogbo Grove, a stretch of forest along the Osun River dotted with shrines and sculptures honoring the river goddess Osun, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 and still draws worshippers during its annual festival. Erin Ijesha, often called the seven-step waterfall, cascades down a rock face in terraces that visitors can climb.

Osun is home to Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile Ife, one of Nigeria’s leading universities, and has produced megachurch leader Enoch Adeboye, musician Davido, UFC champion Israel Adesanya, former governor Rauf Aregbesola, and preacher William Kumuyi.