- He underscored the significance of the Ifa traditional belief system, asserting that it was an essential component of Yoruba identity long before the arrival of Christianity and Islam.
- Obasanjo urged the Yoruba people to safeguard their traditions, language, and cultural practices.
Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has emphasized the significance of preserving Yoruba cultural heritage, particularly the Ifa traditional belief system, which he considers an essential aspect of Yoruba identity.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that during a reception honoring the acclaimed female talking drummer, Olumuyiwa Aralola, popularly known as Ara, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Obasanjo urged the Yoruba people to safeguard their traditions, language, and cultural practices.
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He called for the rejection of any attempts to undermine or diminish the rich Yoruba heritage.
Emphasizing the authenticity of African cultural heritage, Obasanjo noted that preserving these traditions is crucial for maintaining the continent’s identity.
He said partly, “We must not joke with our culture. We are being relegated to the background, our language is being relegated, as are our food, our dress, and others. We must not allow it. They are authentic things. Yoruba is not vernacular.”
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, while affirming his devotion as a Christian who attends two churches, emphasized that his faith has never prevented him from appreciating and safeguarding Yoruba cultural heritage.
He underscored the significance of the Ifa traditional belief system, asserting that it was an essential component of Yoruba identity long before the arrival of Christianity and Islam.
“I am a Christian, I attended two churches today, and that does not mean that I should forget my culture. Whoever says Ifa is nothing, I will say that person is a big fool. Before Christianity and Islam, we have Ifa Orunmila meaning Olorun lo mo eni to ma la, ‘It is Heaven that knows who will be saved.’”
The former president commended Ara for her role in promoting Yoruba culture through her mastery of the talking drum, traditionally dominated by men.
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“For whatever reason, we must preserve our culture, Ara is a woman of culture, she is our cultural ambassador, she has lifted our culture and has broken the taboo on what was formerly believed to be exclusively for male gender. She had not only excelled in this but was already building young ones to preserve her legacy.”
