The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, has enjoined Yoruba in diaspora to immerse themselves in their religions and traditions for spiritual strengthening, personal fulfilment in life, global understanding and harmony.

This was contained in a release by the monarch’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, concerning the grand finale celebration of this year’s World Sango Festival held at the ancient Palace in Oyo City.

Explaining the essence of the festival, Alaafin pointed out that going by the happenings around the world in contemporary times, there is the need for Yoruba as a people to retain our traditional and cultural identity in the face of the global village, which the world has become as a result of fast-improving technology.

“Sango was preferred because he was a man of valour, purpose-driven and master of diplomacy. He became King when Oyo was at its formative stage and surrounded by mighty and warlike states such as Nupe, Ibariba and Owu.

“His charismatic leadership re-defined the character and pattern of inter-group relations and diplomacy and made Oyo the centre-piece of his foreign relations. His short reign consolidated the position of Oyo as the foremost Guinea Savannah State and also secured the independence and
sovereignty of the nascent kingdom. Sango paid the supreme sacrifice and left Oyo more grandiose, more stable, better administered and more secured than he met the nascent kingdom. He was today being remembered as ‘’one of the rare African leaders who became instant success in empire building.

“While great countries celebrate their glorious past, Africans do not give much reverence to theirs due to super-imposition of the two main religions of Islam and Christianity. Unfortunately, preachers of these two religions are known for etching
their sermons and creed into the consciousness of Africans’ psyche, which have conditioned our sense of appreciation and thinking. The colonial mentality has blindfolded us and made us to perceive erroneously our invaluable culture and tradition as fetish.

“You should look beyond the challenges of nation-building we are currently facing in Nigeria and concentrate attention on the spiritual significance of your home coming to rebuild your cultural identity and spiritual self-rediscovery. Failure to do this has also resulted in the way we picture our past heroes and great men of valour and virtues, who should be immortalised, venerated and celebrated. Not only that, their deeds, acts and wise sayings were worthy of being compiled, documented, reserved and preserved for generation yet unborn”.

Oba Owoade urged the Yorubas to give necessary supports to their
tradition and culture so that the race could stand out in the world. He advised the parents to always teach their wards Yoruba Language saying that, “research had shown that children that learn Yoruba easily understand other languages”.

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