BY THECAPTURE TRAVELOGUE TEAM
O sun-Osogbo or Osun-Osogbo Sacerd
Grove is a sacred forest along the banks
of the Osun river just outside the city of
Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
The Osun-Osogbo Grove is among the
last of the sacred forests which usually
adjoined the edges of most Yoruba cities
before extensive urbanization. In recogni-
tion of its global significance and its cul-
tural value, the Sacred Grove was in-
scribed
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
2005.The 1950s saw the desecration of
the Osun-Osogbo Grove: shrines were ne-
glected,
priests abandoned the grove as customary
responsibilities and sanctions weakened.
Prohibited actions like fishing, hunting
and falling of trees in the grove took place
until an Austrian, Susanne Wenger, came
and stopped the abuse going on in the
grove.With the encouragement of the
Ataoja and the support of the local peo-
ple, "Wenger formed the New Sacred Art
movement to challenge land speculators,
repel poachers, protect shrines and began
the long process of bringing the sacred
place back to life by establishing it, again,
as the sacred heart of Osogbo".
== Osun-Osogbo Festival ==
Every year, the Osun-Osgogbo festival is
celebrated in the month of August at the
grove. Yearly, the festival attracts thou-
sands
of Osun worshippers, spectators and tour-
ists from all walks of life.