ỌdúndéThe new year has arrived

Odunde Festival

A day of Yoruba culture at Leimert Park, held each June. Four zones, one village, open to everyone.

Plan your day Apply as a vendor

Pending: the datePending: the hoursPending: the cost

DatePending: the date

TimePending: the hours

WhereLeimert ParkPending: the exact venue line

CostPending: the cost

FamilyAll agesChildren's compound on site

Ìtàn ọjọ́ náàWhat the day is

What Odunde is

Odunde marks the Yoruba new year. It is held in June at Leimert Park, and it is open to the whole neighborhood, not only to Yoruba families. The park is laid out as a village for the day, with four zones and a program that runs from the opening procession to the last drum.

If you have never been: this sits alongside Lunar New Year, Diwali, and Nowruz. Communities that pause the world for a day to celebrate who they are, in public, with their neighbors, and with anyone who wants to come and eat.

What the festival produces The other half of our year, the Gala

A dancer in a raffia skirt plays with a young girl, the masquerade beside them — Festival dayLeimert Park

Ìlú kanOne village

Four zones, one village

The plaza is divided the way a Yoruba town is divided. Each zone has its own name, its own people, and its own reason to stand there all day.

Elders in aṣọ òkè and lace rest at a round table under the Ọjà Balógun sign

The market

Ọjà Balógun

Pending: the zone description

Children at the craft tables in Àgbàlá Ọmọde with a Ludo board and paper crafts

The children's yard

Àgbàlá Ọmọde

Pending: the zone description

[ a photograph of the zone ]

Pending: the unnamed zones

[ a photograph of the zone ]

Pending: the unnamed zones

Ètò ọjọ́Order of the day

The day, hour by hour

Enough for a family to decide when to arrive and what not to miss.

Pending from youthe rows, times and content

Ẹ múraGet ready

Plan your visit

Everything you need on the day, from getting there to what to bring.

Getting there: Pending: a practical fact
Parking: Pending: a practical fact
Transit: Pending: a practical fact
Accessibility: Pending: a practical fact
Seating: Pending: a practical fact
What to bring: Pending: a practical fact
What not to bring: Pending: a practical fact
Lost children: Pending: a practical fact

Ẹ dara pọ̀ mọ́ waJoin us

Take part in Odunde

Four ways in. Each one says what it asks of you, then opens a short form.

Vendors

Sell at Ọjà Balógun

A booth is held once the fee is paid. Pending: fees, deadline and permit rules

Apply for a booth

Sponsors

Keep the day open

Four questions, and we send the deck with our impact numbers.

Performers

Drummers, dancers, cultural groups

One short form, and the program committee sees every one.

Ask about performing

Volunteers

Festival day needs hands

One short form, and we place you where the gap is.

Too small to sponsor, but want the day to happen? A gift does the same work.

Ọdún tí ó kọjáYears past

Odunde in past years

Pending: the attendance figure

An elder in white with a green sash high-fives a toddler on the painted plaza

An elder in white with a green sash high-fives a toddler on the painted plaza

Members in white and green gather on Degnan Boulevard as the opening procession begins

The procession moves down Degnan Boulevard led by a gángan drummer in white

Women in white with green and white sashes dance in the procession

A gift is presented to the association's leaders at the opening

A woman in white speaks into a microphone on the plaza below the Vision Theatre tower

A woman in blue àdìrẹ and a blue gèlè speaks into a microphone

A woman in blue àdìrẹ ties a green and white gèlè on a seated guest

1 of 8

Photographs: Red Carpet Films.

All Odunde albums

Partners and sponsors of Odunde

The day is open because these organizations help pay for it.

Pending from youpartner and funder names

Want the day to happen again next June? Give now, or sponsor and join this row.

Donate Sponsor Odunde