In order to continue to promote indigenous language, arts and culture in Ekiti State, Living World Gospel Church has concluded plans to hold a special programme tagged “Ekiti Sunday” during Sunday Service on June 16 when the service of the day will be conducted in pure, undiluted Ekiti dialect.
The event, with the theme, ‘Praise the God of Ekiti (Israel)’ has been scheduled to hold on Sunday June, 2019 at the church premises along the Federal Housing Road, besides old UNAD guest House Adebayo, Ado-Ekiti.
The founder of the church, His Most Eminence, Archbishop (Dr.) Nathaniel Olorunsola (JP), who dropped the hint during a visit to the Director-General, Ekiti state Council of Arts and Culture, Ambassador
Wale Ojo Lanre, said it is an inspiration from the Holy Ghost. The Clergyman said, “Ekiti Service is an indigenous Sunday Service of praise which has been on for five years. In this Sunday Service, liturgies, praise and worship, Bible reading, prayers, amongst others would be translated and conducted in Ekiti dialect”.
Archbishop Olorunsola added that, “We are also going to reward people that are well dressed in traditional attire with special gifts. All this is just to encourage our people to love and promote our indigenous language and culture through the church”.
In his response, the Chief Cultural Officer of the state, Wale Ojo Lanre described the initiative as a welcome development and urged others to emulate the unique initiative aimed at promoting the much cherished culture and tradition in the state.
Ojo lanre advised that religious organizations should stop projecting the culture and tradition of the land as evil and fetish. “We have to promote, enhance, and harness our culture, crafts, and tradition for economic advantage.”
In a related development, traditional rulers in Ekiti State have pledged their unalloyed cooperation with the administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi in ensuring that the administration regenerates and promotes Arts and Culture in the state.
The Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Michael Oluwole Ademolaju, Adugbole III, Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, and Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti gave this assurance in their separate remarks while receiving the Management of Council for Arts and Culture in their palaces.
The traditional rulers maintained that the Governor’s decision to resuscitate the sector by carving it out as a separate government establishment and appointing a competent hand to manage the affairs of the council is a welcome development.
The Ewi, Oba Aladesanmi, in his remarks lamented the declining status of Yoruba culture and tradition and its negative influence on the society.
“It is worrisome that the cherished virtues and tradition of the Yoruba is fast eroding with the current trend but I believe that with the step the governor has taken, there will be positive development”, he opined.
The Oloye, Oba Ademolaju, in his own remarks urged stakeholders to rise up to the occasion and be actively involved in restoring the virtues of the State.
“Our dressing and eating habit, and the way we communicate should always reflect our good virtues as Ekiti people. The people at the helms of affairs and parents should be in the forefront of the crusade by living by example”, he submitted.
Oba Ademolaju promised that other traditional rulers in the state will continue to support and promote any cultural event that enhances the promotion of culture and tradition in the state.
The Director-General, Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo Lanre, who led the management team to these palaces hinted that government was planning to inaugurate Committee for Arts and Culture in all the 16 Local Government areas of the state.
“Part of the mandate given by Dr. Fayemi is to restore, promote and revitalize the arts and culture sector in the state and I believe with the support of our traditional rulers we will achieve and succeed in the task”, he further said.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
