The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, has bemoaned the ongoing promotion of foreign cultures and languages to the detriment of the Yoruba language and cultural legacy.
The Olubadan, supported by Oba Olusegun Alamu, the Alapatere of Apatere, the Chief Imam of Yorubaland, Sheik Abdulraheem Aduanigba and Chief Kunle Adelakun, Jagunmolu Agbekoya, spoke on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at the Ayajo Adire Tiwantiwa, organised by Akinkanju Obinrin of Yoruba at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Other states, Kogi, Kwara, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos, and Oyo are represented at the event.
Oba Balogun, represented by Chief JT Raimi, Asiwaju Iyaloja General of the state, advised that the culture should not be neglected as it is at risk of extinction.
“While I congratulate the organizers of this program, I am worried that borrowed culture is fast eroding our culture. We used to dress in traditional attire but that practice is fast going into extinction. We are all guilty of the adoption of borrowed culture. Yoruba culture is rich but we do not appreciate what belongs to us.
“Let us promote our culture. We are fond of speaking the English Language while we discard the Yoruba Language and culture. When you get to China, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria, and other parts of the world, they speak their various languages. Here, they would say that without passing English Language, our children cannot gain admission into the university.
“Our daughters can no longer kneel down while our sons cannot prostrate to greet. This is uncharitable. We should have had a rethink and retrace our steps. Yoruba people are rich in culture and we are blessed in commerce. We are hardworking, so we work for survival – we don’t beg. We don’t want the eyesore to continue”, The monarch said.
Bukola Okesola, who represented the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Lekan Alabi, emphasized the importance of incorporating cultural training into the secondary school education curriculum in order to propagate it.
“As you can see today, the younger generation is not properly carried along in the cultural drive. We need to make conscious efforts to preserve our culture and tradition. The way to go about it is to encourage the upcoming generation”, she said.
While expressing his excitement at the event, Yorubaland’s Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdulraheem Aduanigba, stated that Kwara is a Yoruba state with Nupe and Baruba as minority tribes, adding that, “In Kwara State, we have 114 Yoruba kings while there are 67 Yoruba kings in Kogi State.”
Eruobodo, observing that Yoruba is spoken all over the world, advocated for cultural projection in order to inspire the young and increase tourism.
Those in attendance included Chief Mrs Raimi Asiwaju, Iyaloja General Oyo State; Mrs Onipede Victoria, Iyaloja Bodija Market, Ibadan, Jagun Khadijat Taiwo, Matron Akinkanju Obinrin, Emmanuel Ajibero, President of Ilana Omo Odua in Kabba, Olugbemi, President, Okun Heritage, Ibadan, Babatunde Doctor Oyenike Adeleke, Director of Oyo State Entrepreneurship; and Comrade Awa Bamiji, National Coordinator.
Elizabeth Feyisayo Sanu of Ogun State won the title of ‘Omidan Oodua,’ followed by Blessing Ayedogbon and Omowumi Taiwo of Kogi State.
Meanwhile, Oyo won the cooking competition, and Kogi came in second, and third position respectively.
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