Promoting Yoruba Culture Globally

Chiamaka Ozulumba writes on the passion at which Joel Olaniyi-Oyatoye, a Canada-based Nigerian, has been promoting Yoruba culture globally

For Canada-based Nigerian culture enthusiast Prince Olaniyi Oyatoye, his passion to promote the Yoruba culture is telling. Recently, he took a big leap in cultural promotion for the 2021 Asa day held at the Cultural Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State. The event was to promote the Yoruba culture and tradition and also make huge efforts in exporting those cultural ideas to the global world.

Explaining the reasons for his cultural exploits, Convener and President of Asa Day World Wide Inc.Canada, Oyatoye said the outfit is a non profitable organisation that was established purposely in order to promote Yoruba culture across the world, adding that previous events had been held twice in Canada.

The Yoruba culture ambassador maintained also that those events were truly an eye-opener, saying the annual Asa Day would bring forth the desired reward for future events

“After two successive editions of Asa Day in Toronto, and Manitoba, Canada in 2018 and 2019, we decided to come down to Oyo to showcase the best of Yoruba culture and that is the reason for this event. So, I am using this opportunity to seek the support needed to take this programme to an enviable heights as it is done all over the world.”

Oyatoye insisted that Asa day was a complete project designed to take the Yoruba youths off the streets, adding that the youths represented the strength of every race and if the southwest governors could key into the programme, it would add to the value and create the needed market for the youths .

“There is a global template to showcase the content of Yoruba culture to the world. We have made significant progress with the Canada events but Asa day is a brand on its own,and as a global event, it transcends beyond Nigeria and South West. It is our plan to extend this to other South-west states, including Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo and Ogun States”.

He insisted that the sterling qualities of the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in the promotion of cultural values of the Yorubaland is exemplary.

“These qualities were staunchly recognised and celebrated by foremost Yoruba monarch, the Alaafin of Oyo,His imperial majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III; and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams”,he said.

Alaafin and Aare Gani Adams in their separate remarks charged the remaining five governors in the SouthWest geo-political zone of Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States to emulate Makinde in promoting cultural tourism.

Speaking on the occasion, Oba Adeyemi, who was represented by the Basorun of Oyoland, Chief Yusuf Akinade, eulogized Makinde’s efforts in showcasing the cultural potentials of the Yoruba race.

The monarch said the Yoruba are a blessed race with history, values and traditions that had endured for centuries, noting that it’s sad that the Yoruba culture and tradition are going into extinction.

His words: “Asa Day has brought to the fore memories of the past, including those values that have made our race a unique and distinct race among all races. So we must applaud the converner of Asa Day World Wide Inc. Prince Olaniyi Oyatoye, for partnering with the Oyo State Government under Governor Seyi Makinde to develop an annual template for cultural transformation and development”.

Also in his remarks, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, said there is no doubt that Yoruba has lost its culture and tradition to foreign culture and this had taken a huge toll on the general values and impression of the race.

He pointed out that with the new development, the convener of the programme, Prince Oyatoye, and his team have done the entire Yoruba race, as well as those that are promoting the culture and tradition a big favour by using a platform such as Asa Day to regain the lost glory and revive South West economy.

The Yoruba generalissimo, however, urged all culture enthusiasts to support the cause that would enhance everything that has to do with Yoruba culture and tradition.

Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr.Wasiu Olatunbosun,in his speech commended the courage of the convener of the programme, saying the event would open a new vista of hope for the state and Yorubaland in general.

“On behalf of our amiable governor Engineer Seyi Makinde, and the Oyo State Government, I want to extend my appreciation to the president of Asa Day Worldwide, Prince Olaniyi Oyatoye, for organising this special event in Oyo state. I also appreciate him for making Oyo State the pacesetter as usual for cultural transformation.

“The event has showcased the tourism values and potentials of Oyo state and SouthWest as a whole. All these are the ideals being nurtured by the State Government,

“Oyatoye had, through this event, exported Nigeria’s culture and tradition to the Canadian Government and he is presently enjoying massive support and leverage from the government.

“That is why today, we can witness large turnout of dignitaries, culture enthusiasts and foreign ambassadors who are ready to project the African culture and tradition.

The occasion was graced by eminent personalities and critical stakeholders in the promotion of cultural tourism towards boosting the economy of the state and South-west at large.

Prominent guests present at the event include Alaafin’s wife, Queen Ramot Adeyemi;Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland,Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams,Bashorun of Oyo,Chief Yusuff Akinade, former Oyo state first lady, Alhaja Mutiat Ladoja; Former Deputy governor of Oyo state Ambassador Taofeek Oladejo Arapaja, and Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in Oyo State, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, and members of Oyo State House of Assembly.

The roll call also comprised former commissioner of police in Lagos State, Kolawole Esusu; as well as eminent personalities, including wife of the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaja Bose Adedibu; Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora Hon. Bolanle Sarumi, her counterparts on Culture and Tourism,Hon Akeem Ige and Special Adviser to the Ekiti State governor on Culture and Tourism, Wale Ojo-Lanre; Ekefa Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oloye Lekan Alabi; as well as Mojisola Meshioye, and other dignitaries.

Governor Seyi Makinde, Alaafin’s wife,Queen Ramot Adeyemi and a few other prominent dignitaries were also honoured with various awards at the event.