Owanbe
| Native name | Ówàńbẹ̀ |
|---|---|
| Date | Varies |
| Location | Nigeria, Benin, Togo (native to Yorubaland), and the diaspora |
| Also known as | Ówàḿbẹ̀ |
| Type | Social event |
| Budget | Varies |
| Participants | Yoruba people and others in attendance |
| Activity | Music, Dance, Food, Fashion, Merriment, Money spraying |
| Attendance | Varies |
| Genre | Celebration |
Owanbe (sometimes wrongly spelt Owambe) is a Yoruba term for extravagant parties thrown by the Yoruba people in Yorubaland and the diaspora. The term is derived from the Yoruba expression "Ó wà ní ibẹ̀", directly translating to mean; The place where it is at, but more nuancedly referring to a party or event (often elaborate), where there is a lot of celebration going on. Coinage of the term is attributed to the band of Jùjú musician Tunde Nightingale active from the 1940s. The word soon became synonymous with his brand of Juju music (Owanbe sound) as well as club and party life in urban Western Nigeria with other such musicians as I. K. Dairo and Ebenezer Obey in performance.
Being occasions to see and be seen, the term can also mean the presence of a person or thing, as in: "is Fela there? Yes, Ówàńbẹ̀!". Ówàńbẹ̀ parties mark various occasions, including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, funerals, housewarmings, graduations, and chieftaincy titles. They are known for their opulence, style, and abundance of food, music, dance, and money.