‘’Culture of people is veritable social capital’’, says ALAAFIN
.National Assembly to support monarch’s efforts at rekindling Yoruba
cultural heritage
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba [Dr.] Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has
observed that the time to begin to appreciate and re-appreciate the
cultural importance to Yoruba and national growth is critically now,
as experiences suggest that the pathways to development are
strategically hidden in the cultures and cultural-political
determinations.
OBA Adeyemi made the observation today at the grand finale of the
ten-day World Sango festival held in Oyo town.
He said it is a truth today that Yoruba cultures are under threat,
adding that these cultures are in fact been pushed beyond their
limits of tolerance in manners that suggest danger, adding that some
cultures are in fact already surviving at the merging.
‘’The basic culture and civilization which the Yoruba have built still
endured and remained fulcrum of political, economic, religious and
intellectual development of the country till today. The Yoruba
developed a highly sophisticated system of government with effective
checks and balances, which was spiced with a high level of gender
consciousness, adding that the Yoruba traditional system of government
is indeed one of the oldest forms of democracy in the world’’.
Alaafin who lamented that the elites’ attitudes towards the use of
Yorùbá language, said English is regarded as a symbol of social
structure.
‘’The age-long prohibition of ‘vernacular’ is still firmly
operational in a large percentage of Yorùbá elite homes. Their
children must learn and always speak English. Apparently, Yorùbá
language still exists in Nigeria today because of high-level of
illiteracy. If we have a low percentage of literacy, the language will
be gone. Parents want their children to speak and learn English. While
the language gives us the ability to think differently and retain the
mentality, total abandonment of the Yorùbá language brings total
dislocation and loss of identity. Some basic aspects of the Yorùbá
culture, especially different forms of greetings, are now completely
foreign to many élite families’’.
The paramount ruler explained that some élites find all greetings
forms in Yoruba language unnecessary and time wasting, but adopt a
simple greeting pattern such as Hi/Hello, which to them is preferable.
‘’The children too imbibe their parents’ attitude, their personalities
and then become not only divided, but also totally shattered. They
become localised foreigners. The negative negligence and negligible
use of Yorùbá by the élites, has spilling over effects on Yorùbá as a
discipline’’.
According to the Alaafin, ‘’Yoruba culture is not static. At the same
time, every generation tries to preserve aspects of the indigenous
tradition. This effort is counterbalanced by the pragmatic desire of
the Yoruba to appropriate change in the garb of tradition’’.
‘’Culture as viable tool of development are under-estimated and not
annexed even when the Americans and European Union (EU) are doing
everything possible to annex their many cultures for national and
regional sustainable development drive. Brazil, India and China, as
well as South Korea, Indonesia, and Singapore all built their paths to
development on traditional values and culture. Interestingly, these
Western countries, including the Asian Tigers all started the journey
to development with Nigeria, but they have since left Nigeria far
behind on the race to development. The gap is very wide and is still
being widened as the missing link in Nigeria is still not being
annexed’’.
Alaafin further submitted that in Nigeria, Like in other related
domains, language is a very key cultural identical, pointing out that
this is why culture is sometime categorized along language groups.
Said he, ‘’all the ethnic and language groupings in the country have
deep rooted traditional background and established oral traditions in
proverbs. They communicate through proverbs when serious issues are to
be discussed and meaning are to be made and instructions passed with
non-controversial implications. All these ethnic groups and
ethno-linguistic groups in Nigeria have strong affinity for and usage
of proverbs. Proverbs form the core component of the language and
general communication in the country just as in other parts of Africa
especially the Sub-Sahara’’.
While appreciating participation of some foreign nationals in the
global festival in the ancient town, and their visitations to
historical centres in Yorubaland while the events lasted, alaafin
spoke on the imperatives of cultural tourism in the diversification of
the economy for national growth.
In his address, President of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress [OPC], Otunba
Gani Adams, described culture as a cure-all for growth and
development, noting that nothing is achieved and could be achieved
except it is operated within culture.
The Europeans, Americans, and the Asian Tigers, Gani Adams stated,
paid considerable attention to their cultural imperatives even in
diversity and domesticated developmental trajectories within their
cultural domains and environments.
‘’ They made cultural sense of policies and programmes. Their cultural
ethos determined directions for policies and demonstrated the road to
popular implementation. It is important to note that it is only proper
annexation of culture that could make national integration and
development possible, make ECOWAS Frameworks and goals achievable,
drive achievement of Millennium Development goals (MDGs) and move the
nation forward in terms of needed growth and development’’.
Also speaking, a member of the House of Representatives representing
Afijio, Atiba, Oyo-East and Oyo-West Federal Constituency in Oyo
State, Honourable Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, said that cultures hold the
key to growth, oneness, integration, identity and development
ultimately, pointing out that there is thus a strong interrelationship
among culture, growth, progress, development and even national
integration.
According to the federal lawmaker, ‘’the population of Nigeria is over
140 million. It is, consequently, the most populous country in Africa,
close to 20 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa and is the sub-continent’s
second largest economy. In the same vein, Nigeria is one of the most
culturally diverse nations in the world. It is thus, a multi-cultural
nation. There are about 500 ethnic groups in Nigeria with very diverse
socio-cultural system deeply rooted in ethnic segmentation. The
cultural variability in the country is represented through ethnic
categorization which collectively forms ethnic plurality, culture
multiplicity and ethno-linguistic groupings’’.
Adeniyi submitted the present administration under President Muhammadu
Buhari, is irrevocably committed to the promotion of cultural tourism,
as one of the veritable channels of diversifying the country’s
economy which relies solely on oil.
‘’This decision of the government was sequel to the summon of the
Minister of Information, Culture ,Tourism and National Orientation by
the House of Representatives, as well as my presentation before the
Minister urgent need to identify the country’s cultural tourism
centres, like Sango festival, and explore their potentials to the
fullest for economic prosperity.’’
He added that in appreciation of selflessness, commitment and
un-relentless efforts of the Alaafin in rekindling rich Yoruba
cultural heritage, efforts are in top gear by the National Assembly to
complement the royal ideals.
.National Assembly to support monarch’s efforts at rekindling Yoruba
cultural heritage
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba [Dr.] Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has
observed that the time to begin to appreciate and re-appreciate the
cultural importance to Yoruba and national growth is critically now,
as experiences suggest that the pathways to development are
strategically hidden in the cultures and cultural-political
determinations.
OBA Adeyemi made the observation today at the grand finale of the
ten-day World Sango festival held in Oyo town.
He said it is a truth today that Yoruba cultures are under threat,
adding that these cultures are in fact been pushed beyond their
limits of tolerance in manners that suggest danger, adding that some
cultures are in fact already surviving at the merging.
‘’The basic culture and civilization which the Yoruba have built still
endured and remained fulcrum of political, economic, religious and
intellectual development of the country till today. The Yoruba
developed a highly sophisticated system of government with effective
checks and balances, which was spiced with a high level of gender
consciousness, adding that the Yoruba traditional system of government
is indeed one of the oldest forms of democracy in the world’’.
Alaafin who lamented that the elites’ attitudes towards the use of
Yorùbá language, said English is regarded as a symbol of social
structure.
‘’The age-long prohibition of ‘vernacular’ is still firmly
operational in a large percentage of Yorùbá elite homes. Their
children must learn and always speak English. Apparently, Yorùbá
language still exists in Nigeria today because of high-level of
illiteracy. If we have a low percentage of literacy, the language will
be gone. Parents want their children to speak and learn English. While
the language gives us the ability to think differently and retain the
mentality, total abandonment of the Yorùbá language brings total
dislocation and loss of identity. Some basic aspects of the Yorùbá
culture, especially different forms of greetings, are now completely
foreign to many élite families’’.
The paramount ruler explained that some élites find all greetings
forms in Yoruba language unnecessary and time wasting, but adopt a
simple greeting pattern such as Hi/Hello, which to them is preferable.
‘’The children too imbibe their parents’ attitude, their personalities
and then become not only divided, but also totally shattered. They
become localised foreigners. The negative negligence and negligible
use of Yorùbá by the élites, has spilling over effects on Yorùbá as a
discipline’’.
According to the Alaafin, ‘’Yoruba culture is not static. At the same
time, every generation tries to preserve aspects of the indigenous
tradition. This effort is counterbalanced by the pragmatic desire of
the Yoruba to appropriate change in the garb of tradition’’.
‘’Culture as viable tool of development are under-estimated and not
annexed even when the Americans and European Union (EU) are doing
everything possible to annex their many cultures for national and
regional sustainable development drive. Brazil, India and China, as
well as South Korea, Indonesia, and Singapore all built their paths to
development on traditional values and culture. Interestingly, these
Western countries, including the Asian Tigers all started the journey
to development with Nigeria, but they have since left Nigeria far
behind on the race to development. The gap is very wide and is still
being widened as the missing link in Nigeria is still not being
annexed’’.
Alaafin further submitted that in Nigeria, Like in other related
domains, language is a very key cultural identical, pointing out that
this is why culture is sometime categorized along language groups.
Said he, ‘’all the ethnic and language groupings in the country have
deep rooted traditional background and established oral traditions in
proverbs. They communicate through proverbs when serious issues are to
be discussed and meaning are to be made and instructions passed with
non-controversial implications. All these ethnic groups and
ethno-linguistic groups in Nigeria have strong affinity for and usage
of proverbs. Proverbs form the core component of the language and
general communication in the country just as in other parts of Africa
especially the Sub-Sahara’’.
While appreciating participation of some foreign nationals in the
global festival in the ancient town, and their visitations to
historical centres in Yorubaland while the events lasted, alaafin
spoke on the imperatives of cultural tourism in the diversification of
the economy for national growth.
In his address, President of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress [OPC], Otunba
Gani Adams, described culture as a cure-all for growth and
development, noting that nothing is achieved and could be achieved
except it is operated within culture.
The Europeans, Americans, and the Asian Tigers, Gani Adams stated,
paid considerable attention to their cultural imperatives even in
diversity and domesticated developmental trajectories within their
cultural domains and environments.
‘’ They made cultural sense of policies and programmes. Their cultural
ethos determined directions for policies and demonstrated the road to
popular implementation. It is important to note that it is only proper
annexation of culture that could make national integration and
development possible, make ECOWAS Frameworks and goals achievable,
drive achievement of Millennium Development goals (MDGs) and move the
nation forward in terms of needed growth and development’’.
Also speaking, a member of the House of Representatives representing
Afijio, Atiba, Oyo-East and Oyo-West Federal Constituency in Oyo
State, Honourable Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, said that cultures hold the
key to growth, oneness, integration, identity and development
ultimately, pointing out that there is thus a strong interrelationship
among culture, growth, progress, development and even national
integration.
According to the federal lawmaker, ‘’the population of Nigeria is over
140 million. It is, consequently, the most populous country in Africa,
close to 20 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa and is the sub-continent’s
second largest economy. In the same vein, Nigeria is one of the most
culturally diverse nations in the world. It is thus, a multi-cultural
nation. There are about 500 ethnic groups in Nigeria with very diverse
socio-cultural system deeply rooted in ethnic segmentation. The
cultural variability in the country is represented through ethnic
categorization which collectively forms ethnic plurality, culture
multiplicity and ethno-linguistic groupings’’.
Adeniyi submitted the present administration under President Muhammadu
Buhari, is irrevocably committed to the promotion of cultural tourism,
as one of the veritable channels of diversifying the country’s
economy which relies solely on oil.
‘’This decision of the government was sequel to the summon of the
Minister of Information, Culture ,Tourism and National Orientation by
the House of Representatives, as well as my presentation before the
Minister urgent need to identify the country’s cultural tourism
centres, like Sango festival, and explore their potentials to the
fullest for economic prosperity.’’
He added that in appreciation of selflessness, commitment and
un-relentless efforts of the Alaafin in rekindling rich Yoruba
cultural heritage, efforts are in top gear by the National Assembly to
complement the royal ideals.
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