Pollution in Nigeria’s sacred Osun River fails to deter worshippers

Despite rising pollution in the revered Osun river, worshippers continue to flock to its waters for spiritual rituals. Edaoto Agbeniyi, a local musician, has visited the river since childhood, but since 2018, the once-clear waters have turned milky due to toxic metals like mercury and lead from nearby gold mining.

The river, a UNESCO Heritage site, remains a significant cultural and religious landmark for the Yoruba people in southwestern Nigeria. Although contamination has sparked concern among devotees and impacted tourism, it hasn’t diminished the spiritual pull of the river. Thousands attended the annual Osogbo festival this year.

“I am angry and sad that the government hasn’t purified the water,” Agbeniyi told Reuters. However, he believes the river’s spiritual essence remains intact.

Despite warnings from advocacy groups like Urban Alert, which found high levels of toxic metals in the river, worshippers like Ajoke Adekoya continue to find peace there, pledging to return next year.

The government announced cleanup efforts last year, but the river remains polluted according to devotees and civil society organizations.

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