THE dense forest of the Osun Sacred Grove, on the outskirts of the city of Osogbo, is one of the last remnants of primary high forest in southern Nigeria. The beautiful landscape of the grove and its meandering river dotted with sanctuaries and shrines, sculptures and art works in honour of Osun water goddess and other deities has overtime become the major attraction for tourists flocking the town especially during the festivals.
The natural beauty unspoiled with trees/shrubs crisscrossing and giving thick canopies for visitors perhaps makes the groove one of the best-preserved cultural heritages in Nigeria.
The environment is fresh, with huge canopy network that shields the sun leaving visitors with quiet and inspiring atmosphere and fun. You will definitely not mistake the groove for a forest reserve.  It is more than a reserve with its spiritual and leisure functions.
On a visit to the groove, one cannot help, but appreciate the natural ambiance and sculpted works of arts by the late doyen of arts, which many often behold with great awe. The paintings on the walls that demarcate the sacred groove with images of human figures in grotesque shapes that adorn the walls tell more of the great artistic talents that the ancient town is blessed with. These works of art also make Osun-Osogbo an artist haven, a town which can be described as a meeting point of the ancient and modern, a tripartite union of religion, culture and arts. It is said that in every house in Osogbo there is a sculptour.
It further testifies that the effort of Uli Blier, the German artists who established the Osogbo School of Art in the early sixties was not in vain. It was through the German scholar that Susan Wenger, an Austrian artist, and late priestess of the sacred groove came in contact with the Yoruba culture and myth. 
It is a fact that Wenger popularised the Osogbo art and wooed many foreigners to see both the art and the Osun festival. The Austrian lady who gave her life to the Osun goddess since she set her foot on Osogbo soil has the world class artists to show for her passion. With her demise last year you will not be lucky to get her attention like before. But her impressive artifacts and great wealth of spiritual powers easily bring her to the mind of visitors.
Despite her demise, the development of the movement of New Sacred Artists and the absorption of the Austrian artist into the Yoruba community have proved to a fertile exchange of ideas that revived the sacred Osun Groove.
However, the best time to appreciate the natural ambiance and sculpted works of arts in the groove is during the Osun Osogbo festival that attracts thousands of indigenes, tourists and investors with special interest in hospitality. During the festival, indigenes and visitors fun around the groove and relish in its spiritual calling (not compulsory for those not inclined to spiritual things) and jamboree that catches more on every visitor. The beauty and colour of the 12 days long festival is the cultural procession of the Otaoja and his entourage to the ancient building at the bank of the river said to be the first palace of the founder of Osogbo who is also sacred.
The votary maid, “Arugba” leads the procession to the grove. Immediately, the Oba is sighted, shouts of ‘Kabiyesi’ rent the air. Otaoja is often flanked by his wives who are gorgeously dressed, acknowledges cheers from the crowd.  You also can’t afford to miss the frenzy with which the people express their appreciation to the people who represent their forebear. With the Otaoja seated during the Grand Finale, traditional chiefs, families and worshippers identified with uniforms danced to pay homage to the Oba in turns.  However, there is a low turnout especially of foreigners this year. It may be attributed to the global economic meltdown and probably the demise of the Australian priestess.
At the just concluded Osun Osogbo celebration, experts are of the opinion that if care is not taken and conscious efforts made to continue to market the festival which hitherto was taken for granted because of Susan’s image that had always pulled local and foreign tourists, its fortune may just be on its way down.