The Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Sesan Fagbayi has expressed concern over the continued promotion of foreign cultures and languages at the expense of Yorùbá language and cultural heritage.
He made his voice heard at the “2nd Solo Photography Exhibition of Mustapha Alogba on Adire Lens,” organised to discuss THE ADIRE HERITAGE: Pathway to Cultural Preservation and Financial Prosperity, held at Banquet Hall, June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
Fagbayi, represented by the Ministry’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs. Samuel Olubukonla, warned that a culture that is neglected is at risk of extinction, expressed his worry that borrowed culture is fast eroding Yorùbá culture and tradition.
Also, one of the panelists at the exhibition, Dr. Tunde Kelani, also lamented the fact that children are now required to pass English Language before gaining admission into the university, with Yoruba language and culture being given less importance.
Kelani, highlighted the fact that traditional Yoruba practices, such as daughters kneeling down and sons prostrating to greet, are also gradually fading away, thus urged his subjects to have a rethink and retrace their steps.
While congratulating the organisers of the programme, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, worried that borrowed culture is fast eroding our culture, “we used to dress in traditional attires but that practice is fast going into extinction. We are all guilty of adoption of borrowed culture. Yorùbá culture is rich but we do not appreciate what belongs to us.
“Let us promote our culture. We are found of speaking English Language while we discard Yorùbá 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.
Also, Mrs. Bola Yinka-Obebe, founder SpeakEde said “Our daughters can no longer kneel down while our sons cannot postrate to greet. This is uncharitable. We should have have a rethink and retrace our steps. Yorùbá 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.”
In his welcome address, the convener, Mr. Mustapha Alogba stressed the need to introduce cultural training into the secondary school education curriculum, emphasised the importance of making conscious efforts to preserve the Yorùbá culture and tradition and to encourage the upcoming generation.
His words: “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.
“In fact, I am a legal practitioner, but now I’m an art photographer and cultural art photographer. I promote arts especially here, and I’m based in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The intention behind this is like, if you could hear what they’ve been saying so far, the culture is dying, and we the youth have a lot to do.
“And our culture is our heritage we that believe in our culture, that is why it should not die. Our culture should flourish and should always be appreciated, when it comes to Egba, you talk about ADIRE. I’m not an Egba born, but I ended up loving Egba. I came to school here, and I’ve never left Agba. The emergence of the china fabrics has made Adire lose its value.
“When we are growing up, if you see Adire, you would be happy to see it. What fabric is this? But now, if you go on the streets, you cannot see it anywhere. You will wear an Adire and the process of adire is very classic, It’s very technical.
“Adire can be used as a wedding gown. it can be used as headgear. It can be used as anything. So let’s value our culture and make it more lively and more interesting for us to have.”
Among those present at the occasion were notable personalities such as High Chief (Sir) Charles Olufemi Keshinro, Odofin Of Ilara-Epe Kingdom, Ilara, Epe, Lagos, Barr. Z.A. Ajibola, Registrar, Crescent University, Ogun State, Mr. Emmanuel Ikwe, Director of Visual Arts, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ogun State, Mrs. Yemisi Dawodu, Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Trade, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, the Largest Private Art Collector in Africa, among others.
Packaged by Hazeez Ayansola
