Nigeria, May 30 -- The 2026 edition of Ojude Oba has ended, but memories of the viral moment that changed the festival's trajectory cannot be erased.

A vibrant cultural festival, Ojude Oba, celebrated in Ijebu-Ode, is usually held on the third day after Eid al-Kabir (Ileya).

The festival features a massive showcase of fashion and the Ijebu heritage, attracting over a million visitors globally.

However, in 2024, Ojude Oba had a defining moment when a charismatic photo of Farooq Oreagba on horseback, smoking a cigar, went viral.

The single photograph took him mainstream, making him the reference point for the term, steeze'.

Two years later, Mr Farooq revealed that the viral moment almost cost him his position as the Chief Executive of ...