Yoruba leaders warn against extinction of Yoruba culture, tradition

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Yoruba leaders warn against extinction of Yoruba culture, tradition

Written by Adebayo Waheed Monday, 14 March 2011

Prominent Yoruba leaders, including traditional rulers, have warned against the extinction of the Yoruba culture, traditions and language.

Speaking at the public presentation and launching of an historical book, “Ojulowo itan ogun Ekiti Parapo (Kiriji)” written by Chief Jimoh Aliu, in Ibadan on Saturday, the leaders stressed the need for the people of the race to embrace their culture and tradition instead of foreign cultures.

They argued that both civilisation and religion had continued to undermine the importance and significance of the Yoruba traditions.

Speaking at the occasion, Oba Ayorinde Ilori of Faboro Ekiti said that it was unfortunate that the Yoruba had allowed foreign languages, cultures and traditions to take over theirs.

While commending the efforts of Chief Aliu in putting the historical war into writing, he said that efforts should be made in ensuring that “we do not allow our culture to die.”

He said government should make the teaching of vernacular language compulsory in all the schools.

In his own contribution, the Obanla of Ijesaland, Chief Mathew Ogedengbe, called on the South-West governments to encourage the teaching of Yoruba languages in schools so as to bring back the lost glory of the Yoruba race.

While noting that the Yoruba have the richest culture and traditions in the world, he said it was unfortunate that “we have allowed foreign languages, cultures and traditions to rule us.”

He described the Kiriji war as the first civil war in Nigeria saying that the decision of the author to put it in reading form was commendable adding that, it would enable people to know what actually happened before, during and after the war.

“Apart from bringing back the lost glory of the Yoruba, it will bring the people together in order to understand themselves and how to liv4e in peace and harmony,” he said.

Speaking, the author who disclosed that it took him 20 years to write the book, said it became necessary when all efforts aimed at bringing the true picture events through films had been bastardized.

“We have destroyed film industry; most of the historical events have been turned up side down and I think the best thing to do is to put it in book form so that people could read what they did not know about the war,” he said.

He called on governments at all levels to encourage the teaching of Yoruba language in schools and make use of traditionalists and Yoruba leaders in the areas of health and education.