The divine head of the House of Oduduwa and the
custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition, His
Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11,
the Ooni of Ife has described the Yoruba tradition
and culture as an inestimable pristine heritage of
no common peer or brand anywhere in the world
which must not be neglected, discarded or
allowed to be subsumed by other cultures or
relegated in the comity of cultures.
The Ooni made this observation while receiving
the convener of Oodua Progressive Union, (OPU)
Otunba Gani Adams, who led a delegation of OPU
members from Europe, America and the UK to
pay homage to the Ooni in his palace in Ife on
Saturday, 2 January, 2016.
Otunba Adams who was accompanied by Akogun
Banji Ojo, OPU, Europe coordinator, Chief Gani
Oshidele, OPU coordinator Scandinavia and Ayo
Awodire, its Paris coordinator, Yeye Tokunbo
Babs-Olurinde, Prince Segun Akanni, Messrs
Kunle Lawal and Ramon Aderinsoye and a crew
of Oodua Voice and magazine congratulated the
Ooni for his ascension of the stead of his
forefathers with peace, devoid of the usual
acrimony, royal rumblings, family tiff and
unnecessary legal tussle; “This is a pointer to the
divine confirmation and endorsement by God
Almighty and the ancestral elements and spirit
that rules the world. “Kabiyesi, Ooni Ojaja, your
ascension to the throne is not by accident neither
is it by permutation, it is a compulsion of what
would be as destined by the creator who in his
magnificence appended the name Enitan to your
being announcing the birth of history maker and a
king whose accomplishment for the Yoruba race
will beat anybody’s imagination. Otunba Adams
pointed out “I am particularly more endeared to
your kingly mission pertaining to our culture
which is under the threat of being wiped off and
constantly being violently harassed by foreign
cultures.
He disclosed “Kabiyesi, it is a matter of grave
concern to know that the threat to our customs,
traditions and value is coming from two deadly
traffic sources internal and external. Internally, we
are daily being subjected to heavy cultural
demonisation by monetised religious outfits which
paint our cultural values, customs and rites as
devilish and diabolic, which have almost killed
some of our cultural events and festivals.
Externally, apart from the fact that other nations
protect their own, they are luring our people into
accepting their culture and dumping theirs.”
“It is our efforts at combating the imminent
erasure of the pristine Yoruba culture that we
inaugurated Olokun Festival Foundation, saddled
with the promotion of major festivals in Yoruba
land Kogi and Kwara inclusive and OPU for the
Yoruba in Diaspora. “Kabiyesi, Olokun Festival is
the only cultural organisation in Nigeria which has
a cultural calendar of 24 festivals spread all over
seven states (Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti,
Kwara and Kogi) “Otunba Adams also revealed
“It was the realisation of the fact that immigrants
Yoruba in other lands are losing touch of our
culture and being lured into believing that their
own culture is not only primitive, but unworthy to
be proud of that led to the inauguration of OPU in
63 countries the world.
He asserts “We are however glad that we have in
Ooni Ojaja, a monarch burning with the passion of
redeeming the cultural status of the Yoruba. Our
coming here today is not only to pledge our
unalloyed support and loyalty to this cause of
cultural revolution, but to affirm our readiness to
cultural revolution to be engendered by Kabiyesi.”
Otunba Adams intimated the Ooni of the next
Oodua Festival which will be held on January 21
to 22 as well as the World Congress of OPU on
January 25 and 26 all in Ile-Ife.
Oba Ogunwusi in his royal response described
Otunba Adams as a special breed of Yoruba who
God has deposited in immeasurable energy and
talents to be utilised for the glory of the Yoruba
race.
“I see you beyond the OPC. I see you beyond
politics. I see you beyond OPU. I see you as a
potent instrument of cultural change and I have
to commend you for your burning passion and
efforts at stabilising Yoruba culture, tradition and
customs.
“You have in the past years proved to be not only
a promoter of Yoruba culture in Nigeria but an
effervescent Yoruba cultural ambassador outside
Nigeria.”
Oba Ogunwusi revealed “My life, my reign, my
tenure, my steps, my views and conduct will be
devoted to the protection, promotion,
enhancement, showcasing and celebrating the
pristine cultural values, customs and tradition of
our heritage without blemish. For our culture has
all the elements of values which no other culture
can be proud of.
“Thus such an irreplaceable pristine traditional
culture and custom which is generational must
not only be venerated, rejuvenated, promoted,
enhanced, but vibrantly branded not for mere
display and celebration, but for economic
benefits of our people and uplift of Yoruba’s
dignity and pride.
“Divine anointment and ancestral duty has placed
on our shoulders the onerous responsibility and
task of ensuring the resuscitation and
revitalisation of the pristine culture and custom
which promote the stability of the society, good
neighbourliness, compliance with the norms and
rules, peace and harmony, “Ooni Ogunwusi added.
“As the custodian of the House of Oduduwa and
protector of the values of Yoruba race, I will not
stand akimbo, watching with glee the progressive
desecration of the culture and tradition of the
race and its subsequent eradication from annals
of history book of advanced culture.”
He also pointed out “It is our culture, tradition
and custom that make us what we are as a race
in the world. We should rise up as a matter of
urgency to embrace, promote, protect, display and
enhance our culture and tradition for the glory of
the race and for trans -generational positivity.”
Ooni Ogunwusi assured all Yoruba “I will
engender a cultural revolution in Yoruba land
which will accentuate and showcase the pristine
beauty of our tradition and customs so well that
it will be irresistible to tourists, delectable to
investors and enviable by all nations,” he said.
While assuring Otunba Adams “I am assuring you
of my support and that of all the elements of
virtues in Yoruba land that you shall not be left
alone in this glorious effort of rejuvenating the
tradition and culture of the Yoruba. Just be rest
assured that you have an Ooni who is lending a
royal hand of support at making the Yoruba
culture the cynosure of all eyes? It is a task that
we shall accomplish. Oodua a gbe wa.”
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