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Tag: Yoruba culture

  • Elebuibon seeks preservation of Yoruba culture through deities worship

    Elebuibon seeks preservation of Yoruba culture through deities worship

    A foremost Ifa oracle priest, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, on Friday, advocated worship of deities and ancestors as a means to preserve the Yoruba culture and traditions.

     The priest, during the 2025 Annual Symposium of Ifayemi Elebuibon Annual Symposium (IFEAS) themed, ‘Veneration/Worshipping Of The Ancestors: Its Place In Iseee Religion,’ noted that preservation of the culture would engender development in Yoruba land.

    He, however, noted that the symposium was not to condemn or criticise other religions, but to underscore the importance of Yoruba culture. 

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     His words, “We should not neglect where we are from, and we should always cherish our heritage. It has contributed a lot to the culture. The symposium is not criticising other religions, it is bringing more understanding about all Yoruba traditional religions.

    “We must not forget our deities and ancestors, we must worship them so that they can continue to bless us, which will go a long way in bringing development into the land.”

     He added that the connection of the Yoruba people with their roots was fundamental; hence, it must not be neglected.

     One of the speakers, Chief Komolafe Wande, gave his insight, insisting that Yoruba can preserve their culture by making sure their language, naming of children, mode of dressing, and Yoruba names should never derail.

  • Promoting Yoruba culture through film

    Promoting Yoruba culture through film

    In a bold move to preserve and promote the rich heritage of Yoruba culture, a non-profit, Illuminate Nigeria Development Network (INDN) is raising young documentary filmmakers and media professionals through mentorship, training, and capacity-building programmes.

    The fellowship themed, ‘promoting Yoruba identity through documentary’ is a three-month immersive programme designed for final-year students in public universities who aspire to become documentary filmmakers and wish to deepen their understanding of Yoruba culture.

    The groundbreaking documentary fellowship, which aimed at engaging participants in authentic storytelling, enriching their knowledge of Yoruba philosophies, governance, and way of life, was  recently unveiled for students through its media mentoring initiative(MMi).

    According to the fellowship convener, broadcaster and multi-genre media personality,

    Anikeade Funke-Treasure, given the intentional focus on Yoruba language and culture, the initiative seeks to preserve cultural pride and foster generational socialisation into the language and traditions. She said: “We cannot sit in criticism and wail about how our young ones do not share our knowledge of language and the nuances of our culture while doing nothing to change the status quo. I listened to the shortlisted student fellows’ pitch their documentary ideas and my heart swelled with pride. I was struck by how articulate the students were and how deeply concerned they were about issues like the state of Yoruba names, the loathing of Oriki, the alienation of our youth from their roots, the celebration of Yoruba fashion, and the desire to elevate our food and meals, among other themes.”

    At the project’s unveiling, globally acclaimed filmmaker Tunde Kelani, who gave a keynote address, praised the initiative for its innovative approach to preserving Yoruba culture. He highlighted the importance of storytelling in safeguarding cultural heritage, noting that Yoruba identity is a treasure that has stood the test of time but faces the risk of being forgotten in the face of globalisation. He said: “Yoruba people are known worldwide for their rich culture, profound history, and timeless traditions. However, with globalisation and the increasing influence of modern trends, many aspects of this heritage risk being forgotten or misunderstood. This is where the power of storytelling through documentaries becomes a vital tool.”

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    While describing documentaries as powerful tools for preserving history, educating others, and celebrating cultural achievements, he encouraged the student fellows to embrace their roles as storytellers, urging them to use their smartphones to document festivals, interview elders, and create videos about traditional Yoruba music, food, and art.

    Kelani challenged the student fellows to see themselves as the storytellers of tomorrow, encouraging them to take advantage of modern technology to document and share Yoruba stories. “You don’t have to wait for someone else to tell our story—start telling it yourself! Whether it’s the beating of the talking drum, the vibrancy of the Egungun festival, or the intricate designs of Adire fabric, these stories belong to you. Let the world know about the beauty of being Yoruba, and let them hear it through your voice.”, Kelani urged.

    The fellowship, which has already garnered significant interest, is expected to produce impactful documentaries that will not only preserve Yoruba culture but also inspire future generations to take pride in their heritage.  As the fellowship progresses, the organisers hope to expand its reach, ensuring that the rich tapestry of Yoruba culture continues to thrive in an ever-changing world. Through this initiative, MMi is proving that storytelling is not just an art form but a powerful tool for cultural preservation and education, according to the Project Coordinator, Media Mentoring Initiative, Mrs. Bolanle Oluwayemi.

  • Traditional leaders advocate for stronger cultural ties among Yoruba people

    Traditional leaders advocate for stronger cultural ties among Yoruba people

    Some traditional leaders in Yoruba-speaking regions have called on indigenes to embrace their cultural heritage to promote unity and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.

    The appeal was made during the 1st Yoruba Obas Summit 2024, organized by the Yoruba Council Worldwide and held at the Monarch Hall in Ikate Lekki, Lagos State.

    Barrister Dotun Hassan, President of the Yoruba Council Worldwide, highlighted in his remarks that the summit provided an opportunity for unity and strategic planning for development across Yoruba lands.

    He noted: “Today marks a new dawn in our history as we move collectively towards fulfilling the ancestral Yoruba development agenda, benefiting both present and future generations.”

    “This landmark summit as ordained by God Almighty ‘Eledumare’ is a congregation of all Yoruba Kings, traditional and religious institutions, policymakers, political minds, Governors, legislators, captain of industries, eminent Yoruba sons and daughters, academia and other great leaders of our time.

    “We are thrilled to welcome you to the first Yoruba Oba Summit, an epochal event aimed at gathering all diverse array of stakeholders dedicated to the progress and unity of Yoruba land.

    “We ensure that this epochal event is prepared towards addressing some challenges facing Yoruba heritage and state of the nation.

    “The summit will also foster unity between our traditional institutions and leaders and to provide a solid foundation for socio-economic integration,” Hassan said.

    Hassan added that the event would also channel reintegration of Yoruba Laws(Iwe Ofin) the enactment of the old 1952-1953 Constitution/Western Region Laws postulated by Chief Obafemi Awolowo into the new People’s Nigeria Constitution or a separate southwest independent law.

    He said that in the law the Oba Obas shall be independent arm of government with absolute immunity and protective powers over their respective lands and provide adequate warfare for their people.

    Hassan said that adequate provision of homeland security through all traditional institutions and sociocultural groups would also be in place.

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    According to him, 35 per cent allocation to the education sector in yorubaland, prompt healthcare delivery services in all yoruba land ensuring access to justice, infrastructural growth and automated means of identifications.

    He said that 15 per cent derivatives allocation for the traditional institutions while 25 per cent derivatives allocation for youth development in yorubaland.

    The Alaketu of Ketu Land in Benin Republic Oba Ajibade Adebowale, in his remarks appreciated the organiser of the summit adding that the event would yield positive changes to the Yoruba speaking lands.

    The royal father also appealed to the traditional leaders to encourage their people to incline and embrace the cultural heritage of the land.

    According to him, our culture is our heritage we should not jettition it for something else, we should endeavour to be identified with our heritage to progress in our land.

    Chief Olaseni Muraina, the Agbain Akin Bashorun Oodua also in his remarks charges the royal fathers to ensure people embrace Yoruba cultural values, norms and ethics to avoid it going on extinction.

    Muraina said that imbibing cultural value would sustain our identity and showcase our belief and values to the world.

    “We have a very solid cultural heritage and values, we shouldn’t allow something else to take it away from us, we should protect and guide jealously our our heritage for our coming generations,” he said.

    Chief Asabi Morounranti, the Asoju Asa Oodua, in her remarks said that the summit was for the progress of Yorubaland.

    Morounranti appealed to the traditional leaders not to deviate from the culture heritage of the land.

    “Many families today have deviated from our culture and allow religion and belief to erode our values from them.

    “We should not allow religion to jettition the culture, we shouldn’t allow foreign beliefs to direct us away from our culture. Religion has allow us to see ourselves as evil we should not destroy our culture because of religion,” she said.

  • Initiative promotes Yoruba culture, language with literature prize

    Initiative promotes Yoruba culture, language with literature prize

    Atelewo Cultural Initiative is set to award the fifth Atelewo prize for Yoruba Literature, with  a grand prize of N1 million.

    The prize honours and promotes Yoruba literature and culture and drives Atelewo’s mission to preserve and rejuvenate the Yoruba language.

    A news conference by the group announcing this was held at the Leaders Hub, Bodija in Ibadan.

    The Atelewo prize for Yoruba Literature addresses challenges faced by creative writing in Yorùbá, such as need for committed publishers, distribution, and cultivation of invested readerships.

    “We accept works in four categories: Poetry, Prose, Drama, and Translation, and we are delighted to be launching the fifth edition’’.

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    One of the founders, Rasaq Gbolahan, said “unlike previous editions with a grand winner and three others, only one will be chosen from Poetry, Prose, Drama, and Translation.

    “The works must not have been published, physically or virtually. Submissions must follow rules and must get in before November 30,” he said.

    The organisers said previous winners are not eligible. This ensures a level-playing field for new voices in Yoruba literature, encouraging fresh talent.

     “We are grateful to Prof. Adeleke Adeeko, Oladele Onile-ere, and Oye Olatoye, whose support have been sustained and advance objectives of the prize.

  • Monarch commended for promoting culture

    The Olu of Ibogun – Balogun in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State and the Promoter of the Ifa Olokun Foundation, Oba (Dr.) Fakayode Adesina Faluade, has described the Alaafin of Oyo and the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ifa Olokun Foundation, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Atanda Adeyemi, as a colossus whose leadership role in the promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition has made monumental impacts on the Yoruba society.

    Oba Faluade, who made this remark early in the week at his Ibogun palace, while leading other members of the foundation in a special prayer session for the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Atanda Adeyemi, on the occasion of his 80th birthday anniversary, noted that the contributions of the foremost Yoruba monarch to the development of Yoruba land in particular and meritorious service to mankind in general would continue to be a reference point and rich resources in any national discourse.

    He expressed joy in the transformation that Yoruba culture and tradition had witnessed since the Alaafin’s ascension on the throne of his forebears, stressing that Oba Adeyemi was indeed a visionary and charismatic monarch whose exemplary leadership style was worthy of emulation.

    The Ibogun monarch portrayed the Alaafin as a traditional ruler of high standing whose passion and dedication to the advancement of Yoruba culture and tradition was undiluted.

    Oba Faluade stressed that the Alaafin had demonstrated that he was a stickler for the growth and development of African culture and tradition in general and would want other Yoruba traditional rulers to imbibe these virtues, which had made the Alaafin a quintessential monarch and first among equals.

    “Over the years, this inimitable monarch has clearly shown that he is not just a foremost traditional ruler whose first love is the promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition, but that he is also a mentor who imparts values, virtues and character which are key components of leadership and it is a custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition of Alaafin’s calibre that we sorely desire in our society,” Oba Faluade said.

    The founder of the Ifa Olokun Foundation stated that he was proud to identify with Oba Adeyemi’s landmark achievements, stressing that the Yoruba race would remain grateful to him for his sacrifices for the unity and stability of the region in particular and Nigeria in general.

    While congratulating Oba Adeyemi on his 80th birthday anniversary, the Ibogun monarch urged the Alaafin to keep up the level of his commitment to the plight of the Yoruba in particular and Nigeria in general and carry on the good work that had endeared him to the generality of Nigerians.

     

  • SSI promotes Yoruba culture, cuisine with ‘Faaji Repete’

    In taking its hospitality experience to the next level, Southern Sun Ikoyi (SSI) continues to innovate with menus as it promotes local cuisines and traditions. The hotel hosted guests to its Yoruba themed Faaji Repete menu through its series of themed ethnic Saturday night menus.
    The ethnic Saturday night menu which commenced with the themed Igbo Amaka celebration, left guests truly excited with inspired local menus by the head chef and cultural representation of the restaurant décor alongside the energetic performance of the traditional troupe who ensured that guests of the hotel left with a truly memorable experience and in awe.
    Faaji Repete at Southern Sun Ikoyi was an experience which lived up to the hotel’s reputation of a complete hospitality experience as guests with different pallets were treated to an array of indigenous Yoruba cuisines which hitherto might not have been seen on the dining of any international hotel.
    The themed celebration offered guests appetizing dishes on menu accompanied with fuji music and other exciting tunes. The reponse was positive as guests swayed to the tunes and good food.
    Through guests experiences and comments, the themed ethnic Saturday night by SSI has showed that there is a lot of untapped cultural menus which has reignited the need for more local cuisines in the hospitality industry as the themed Igbo Amaka and Faaji Repete nights witnessed an interests in the local dishes introduced by foreign guests of the hotel who enjoyed these delicacies. The local dishes for Nigerians present reminisced childhood experiences and dishes which a rare in most menus today.

  • Adams calls for revival of Yoruba culture

    AARE Ona Kankafo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams has called for the revival of cultural heritage as an antidote to the problem of corruption, which has given Nigeria a bad name globally.

    He spoke at an event organised by the Centre for Indigenous Communication, which held, Eko Club, Surulere,Lagos in commemoration of World Indigenous Peoples Day.

    The Aare Ona Kakanfo, who was represented by the National Publicity Secretary, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Yinka Oguntimehin, said: “Nowadays, we have many public office holders who swear by either the Holy Bible or Quran. At the end of the day, you find out that whatever they must have sworn by is based on deceit. Any public office holder who swears by our own divinities will be chastised into line. Nobody would want to come under the wrath of Ogun, deity of iron or Sango, known for thunderous lightening. By the time we go back to our tradition, there will be a positive change,” he said.

    Also, Eko Club President, Chief Tunde Fanimokun, called for the revitalisation of Yoruba culture, saying it is being lost between generation.

    Fanimokun said: “Culture is the symbol of the future; it is the representative of the past and the basis for progress, therefore any people neglecting their culture will be uprooting their past. Culture is very important for any community to grow progressively.”

    Fanimokun listed language, mode of dressing and respect for the elders as core values that have defined the peculiarity of the Yoruba culture.

    Speaking on the theme A flash into the past: Cultural rebirth as agent of change, Mrs Olufunke Fadugba, stressed the need to ensure the younger generation internalises core cultural values because culture has a major role to play in achieving desired change in government.

    “We don’t regard some of our cultural values anymore and we are elevating the culture of other people. In doing that, we are not actualising our own vision as individuals, tribes, groups and a nation. Nigerian culture promotes collectivity and not individuality,” she said.

    Convener of the event, Princess Jumoke Owoola said the need to honour role models otherwise known as agents of change, led the Centre into honouring Chief Tunde Fanimokun at the event.

    “We have been doing this for the past six years and I am happy that the awareness is gaining ground. Initially, people frowned at the need for cultural rebirth, but now the reverse is the case. They have learnt that you cannot take people’s culture away from them,” she said.

  • Ojudu visits as Gani Adams bags award, laments neglect of Yoruba culture

    Presidential Special Adviser Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu yesterday visited Otunba Gani Adams at his Lagos home following his recent designation as Aare Ona Kakanfo Yoruba land.

    Congratulating Adams on his appointment,Ojudu said the Oodua Peoples Congress

    National Coordinator merits the title based on his track record as a freedom fighter and promoter of culture and tradition.

    Also yesterday, Adams was conferred with the Yerima Matansa Arewa Najeriya title and an award for excellence by the Northern Youth Initiative For Peace and Good Governance (NYIPGG)

    President of the group, Umar Farouk Lawal while decorating Adams with the medal that came with the award said it represented integrity and selfless service to mankind.

    Lawal congratulated the Aare Ona Kakanfo designate on his appointment ,saying: “Aare is a position that you well deserve.

    “The role you played to ensure good governance in Nigeria is exemplary.”

    The Northern youths said they would continue to do everything possible to replicate the bridge building attitude Adams.”

  • Ekiti monarch praises Ooni for promoting Yoruba culture abroad

    A traditional ruler in Ekiti State and the Olukere of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, has praised the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi for promoting Yoruba culture in notable countries . Obasoyin said  Oba Ogunwusi  has done the Yoruba nation proud with his recent visits to the United Kingdom with intention to take the race to global reckoning as a richly endowed entity.

    The Olukere also pleaded with his rival monarch and Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu to give peace a chance and “stop inciting the public against him , by saying that he was not a recognised monarch”.

    The monarch lauded the State Council of Obas for setting up a committee to probe into his status as a monarch in the history of his town , rather than a chief priest being arrogated to him by his rival, saying  prompt presentation of  the council’s report will  fast-track the presentation of the staff of office to him by the government.

  • Ooni commends Lagos Assembly for preserving Yoruba culture

    •As Alafin urges Yorubas to unite for development

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has commended the Lagos State House of Assembly for its laudable steps towards promoting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Yorubas.

    Oba Ogunwusi gave the commendation when the speaker of the Assembly, Chief Mudashiru Obasa, led other members of the House on a courtesy visit to the monarch’s palace in Ile-Ife.

    The paramount ruler in Osun State lauded the legislators for conducting their Thursday plenary in Yoruba language and the recent Yoruba summit organised by the House towards making learning of the Yoruba language compulsory in public and private schools in Lagos State.

    Oba Ogunwusi who is the fifty-first Ooni of Ife also urged the lawmakers to immortalise the founding father of Lagos, Olofin Ogunfunminire, noting that Lagos was unique in the history of Yorubaland.

    Earlier, the speaker thanked the monarch for his presence at the Yoruba summit and the giant strides he had taken in promoting unity among traditional rulers.

    Obasa disclosed that the summit had earned the Assembly numerous awards from notable groups in the country and abroad and assured that the House would continue to support efforts to prevent Yoruba culture from going into extinction.

    Similarly, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has urged the Yorubas to unite in order to ensure growth and development of the race.

    Oba Adeyemi, who gave the charge when members of the Lagos Assembly visited him in his palace in Oyo also on Friday, stressed that God has blessed the Yoruba race in several ways.

    The monarch who would clock seventy eight years in the next few months with forty-six years on the throne maintained that the Yorubas were the first to achieve feats in human endeavors such as journalism, medicine, land survey and law across the country.

    Oba Adeyemi, who noted that the mastery of the Yoruba language helps in proficiency in other languages, admonished Yoruba youths never to neglect their culture for a foreign one.