Ooni of Ife: "We are losing the value of our tradition, and it shouldn’t be.”

It was a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of not just Lagos but also of the Yoruba, last Saturday at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, with colourful and breathtaking dance performances, and cultural display.

The event was the third festival colloquium of the Lagos at 50 celebrations, themed, “Tourism Potential in Yorubaland: Landmarks, Culture & History”, and delivered by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife.

Emphasising the importance of culture to socio-economic development of a nation, the Ooni said: “It is very important for our tradition to be carefully kept; and it is very paramount for our heritage to be known and to be told to the generations
that are coming.

“I thank the organisers of Lagos at 50 for giving me this opportunity, and or even generations yet unborn, to know the story of Lagos and to understand the culture that binds us together, to understand the tradition that is still alive today, because gradually, we are losing the value of our tradition, and it shouldn’t be.” He noted that this has been misconstrued in so many ways.

“We are tagged idol worshippers; we are tagged all sorts names, but the truth be told, we are no idol worshippers. Our tradition gives all the glory, gives all the honour, and gives all the adoration to God Almighty who we know as Olodumare. That fact should be first of all established. “Olodumare is the ultimate, the supreme being.
Yes, we have lesser gods, they are messengers of Almighty Olodumare, the creator of everything on earth. He sends them out for different assignments. As we have the structure of the throne on earth, so we have in heaven. “Today, when I was coming here, I saw our culture alive; I saw our tradition very much alive; I saw our heritage very much alive. It is something that we must uphold; it is something that must be kept and carefully followed; and the same must be passed to the next generation.

“It goes with the same story of how Lagos was created. If you are a student of history, you will know that all of us in Lagos, we are here because of our ancestors, what they have done, the foundation they laid for all of us to have come together in one piece and with one accord; for all of us to benefit from the creation of one of the greatest cities in the world.” According to him, Lagos is one of the greatest cities in the world. 

“Recently, crude oil was discovered here in Lagos, in very large commercial quantity. We haven’t seen anything yet in Lagos.
“Lagos is the most accommodating city in the whole of this country. Lagos is one of the greatest stories to be told in the world because it has a very strong link to our culture, a very strong link to our tradition, and a very strong link to our heritage. “These landmarks of tradition and culture should be properly kept,” the Ooni said. Preceding the lecture, were series of performances including a special dance presentation by the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), which emphasizes both the celebration of the rich cultural heritage of the state. There were also performances by the Footprint of David, and masquerades parade and dances from Badagry axis of Lagos.

In an interview with journalists at the event, the Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), Dr. Akin Adejuwon said: “Today’s performance is in continuation National Troupe of Nigeria’s interface with the celebration of Lagos State at 50. Part of our performances today, we rendered an Iba, which is a celebration and paying obeisance to the place of the Ooni of Ife and the place of the Yoruba in Lagos. And as you would recall, we started the process on May 27, when this celebration of Lagos at 50 commenced officially.

It is a two-pronged interface; one, it is based on the fact that Lagos State is actually the environment which our progenitor, Chief Hubert Ogunde, of blessed memory, started most of his performances here in Lagos. It was based on that recognition of Chief Hubert Ogunde’s work that he was invited, in the wisdom of the government of the day at that time, to start the National Troupe of Nigeria, in a way that it will represent the whole of Nigeria.

So, National Troupe of Nigeria finds it a wonderful opportunity that our host state, Lagos State is turning 50, and based on that we have decided to interface with the Lagos at 50 committee headed by Prof. Wole Soyinka, who apart from being my mentor is an icon of the Nigerian theatre.”

Climax of the event was the premiere of the movie Eko: The Blessing of Olofin. Produced by Mr. Fola Onifade and directed by Femi Ade Eketunde, popularly known as Femi Bright, ‘Eko: Iwure Olofin’ is the first in the trilogy of an epic television series about the history and heroes of Lagos. Eko: Iwure Olofin (capturing the life and times of Olofin up to the ascension of King Ado to the throne as the first king of Lagos) is the first of the trilogy.

It is the story of how a brave Ile-Ife Prince left his ancestral home in pursuit of family, fame, honour and glory as was the common practice then. Olofin (Yemi Black) was told by the diviner Adifala (Peter Fatomilola) to leave Ile-Ife with his wife Ajaye (Kehinde Fasuyi) and follow a calabash on a river journey.

He was instructed to settle in the land surrounding the river where the calabash sank.

Source: News Telegraphonline