Alaafin Of Oyo Returns To Canada As Royal Patron Of Niagara Afro Festival
Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada
3 min read
The Niagara Afro Festival: The Reconnect Royal Experience will bring African and Indigenous artists, cultural leaders and communities together in Niagara Falls from November 20 to 22.
His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, will return to Canada this November as Royal Patron of the Niagara Afro Festival: The Reconnect Royal Experience.
Presented by African Women Acting (AWA), the three-day festival will celebrate culture and connection through music, dance, drumming, poetry, theatre, food and community events. The Alaafin Oyo will attend with the Ayaba and a royal entourage from Oyo, Nigeria, in a visit that will connect the African diaspora in Canada with Yoruba heritage.
“Reconnection is vital for everyone, no matter who we are or where we come from,” says Festival Artistic Director Sonia Aimy. “Reconnect for revival.
”The Alaafin’s path has taken him from Oyo to the United Kingdom, Scotland and Manitoba. Born into the Owoade Agunloye ruling house in Oyo, he studied mechanical engineering at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro and The Polytechnic, Ibadan, before continuing his education at the University of Sunderland and Northumbria University. He later worked as a planning engineer in Scotland and as a project coordinator for Manitoba Hydro, while also managing real estate ventures.
Following the passing of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III in 2022, the Oyomesi, Oyo’s traditional council of kingmakers, selected Oba Owoade as the new Alaafin.
The Oyo State Government approved his selection in January 2025, and he returned to Nigeria with his family to assume the throne.
His reign brings together Yoruba royal tradition and global experience, with an emphasis on education, youth empowerment, cultural preservation and diaspora engagement.
The festival begins on November 20 with a free Regal Opening at The Exchange, Niagara Falls’ Cultural Hub & Market. From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., guests can enjoy a cultural marketplace, performances by local dancers, musicians and poets, networking, and private engagements with the Alaafin Of Oyo.
On November 21, guests can visit AWA’s newly acquired Baobab Arts & Culture Centre (BAC Centre) at 5144 Victoria Avenue. The RSVP-only tour, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., will include live entertainment and an introduction to the centre’s vision for expanding Canadian and international cultural opportunities in Niagara Falls.
The festival culminates on November 22 at The Exchange with performances, the Royal Gala and the Awards Ceremony, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. A featured presentation will be the premiere of One Circle, Many Relations, a 60-minute musical theatre production featuring African and Indigenous artists.
The production is co-produced by AWA and Kakekalanicks, an Indigenous arts group and the festival’s local partner.
The evening will also include African cuisine, performances by local and international artists, and the Reconnect Gala Ceremony and Industry Excellence & Royal Awards. Proceeds will support the BAC Centre project, including renovations and scholarships for emerging artists.
Gala guests are invited to wear Aso Oke or “Green Tie” attire. The Green Tie dress code welcomes elegant formalwear in shades of green, as well as classic black-tie attire with green accents.
The festival is supported by Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati and MP Tony Baldinelli, and funded in part by TD Ready Commitment, Canadian Heritage and the Toronto Arts Council. AWA is also seeking market vendors, sponsors and volunteers.
For information, email program@africanwomenacting.org.
Alaafin Of Oyo, a Canadian engineer who once called Manitoba home now sits on one of Africa’s most storied thrones. This November, he returns to Canada to celebrate the culture, creativity and community that connect both worlds.
Tickets are now on sale:
Event Schedule
November 20 | 5 p.m.–10 p.m. — Regal Opening, The Exchange – Cultural Hub & Market, 5943 Sylvia Place, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 1S9. Free admission.
November 21 | 1 p.m.–3 p.m. — Baobab Arts & Culture Centre tour, 5144 Victoria Avenue, Niagara Falls. RSVP required.
November 22 | 4 p.m.–9 p.m. — Festival, Royal Gala and Awards Ceremony, The Exchange – Cultural Hub & Market, 5943 Sylvia Place, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 1S9.
