Gani Adams resucitates Yoruba Cultural Renaissance in Sweden, Paris, Cyprus
Gani Adams
In continuation of his campaign at rescuing the Yoruba in the Diaspora from losing touch with their pristine traditional values, custom, heritage and cultural identity, Otunba Gani Adams, the National Coordinator, Oodua Peoples ‘Congress (OPC) has again inaugurated Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) in three other countries - France, Sweden and Cyprus.
With the sole aim of resuscitating and revitalising the Yoruba culture and tradition among the Yoruba in diaspora, OPU has been launched and sowed in 52 countries. The last three inaugurations were done in Sweden, France and Cyprus by a rich delegation headed by Oba Yisa Olanipekun and other eminent personalities such as Abiodun Adesina, Mr Abiodun Abayomi Mate and two other media practitioners.
Adams in his opening speech in Gothenburg, Sweden to over 2500 Yoruba and their friends on November 29, 2014 said: “It is imperative for us, as a true son of Oduduwa to rise up and quash the scientific and systematic obliteration of the pristine Yoruba cultural heritage and value particularly among the new generation of the Yoruba in Diaspora. It is a task which if we failed to do will bring upon the present generation inter-generational curses and denouncement by next generation and generations yet unborn.”
In the speech read by Captain Abiodun Adesina, Otunba Adams pointed out that any race which out of sheer carelessness, irresponsible despondency and unbridled complacency allowed cultural imperialism, vogue, modernisation and social indoctrination to wash away its intrinsic cultural heritage, traditional values, norms and mores will heap on itself irremediable generational curse and odium from generations yet unborn. “And I cannot be part of this generation and allow this omen to come to fruition; hence, I have taken this burden of Yoruba cultural rejuvenation, sustainability and enhancement upon myself in alliance with you all.
“Some of you may be complacent and careless about your children embracing other people’s cultures without having a grasp of your own. It may be expedient now, but very soon, the children will have cause to blame and even curse you by the time they failed to culturally identify themselves which may subject them to ridicule and embarrassment as children of no culture, no tradition, no value and identity.”
Adams warned: “If Africans in Diaspora failed to aggressively address the deliberate cultural imperialism being launched in a systematic destructive process by the western world in the name of vogue and modernism, the continent will wake up one day to find out that its culture and values have been obliterated from the socio- cultural map of the world.
“This is why we have inaugurated the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) in 52 countries of the world and we will not rest until OPU is launched everywhere under the firmament where the scion of Oduduwa lives and recreates. On my own, I have decided to defend the cultural integrity and heritage of the Oduduwa race without entertaining any fear or favour.
“The task of revamping, resuscitation and rejuvenation of the cultural identity, norms and moral traditional values which distinguish the Yoruba race from the others is necessary accomplished mission. It is in this line that I urge all of us to see the intrinsic necessity in teaching our children our culture, tradition, values and mores. These are what make and distinguish us from others.”
The packaging of the colourful celebration and presentation of Yoruba cultural dance, ethics, poems, display of Yoruba foods, cutting of the cake, by OPU members in Sweden and exciting navigation of the event by a Lagos-based comedian and broadcaster who is the Chairman, Freelance Broadcaster Association, FIBAN, Lagos State, Mr Abayomi Mate, aka, Ifankalelluyah made the night one to remember with his rib-cracking jokes, songs and display.
The Nigeria Ambassador to Sweden, HE, Benedict Onochie-Amobi who was represented by Mrs Jane Ndem was impressed by the vision, objective and ideological bent of OPU as expressed by Adams who he described as the standard light bearer of Nigeria cultural asset in the global forum.
The Yoruba cultural renaissance came alive again in the city of Paris on Friday December 5, 2014 when Adams inaugurated the France Chapter of the union.
The elaborate ceremony held at Boulevard De Liberation, St Denis, Paris commanded the presence of Nigeria’s Ambassador to Paris, His Excellency Hakeem Olawale who was represented by the Head of Chancery Olumide Olowo, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, Captain Olatokunbo Abiodun Adesina, Akogun Banji Ojo, the Europe Coordinator, OPU and all union’s Coordinators in Europe.
The elaborate ceremony held at Boulevard De Liberation, St Denis, Paris commanded the presence of Nigeria’s Ambassador to Paris, His Excellency Hakeem Olawale who was represented by the Head of Chancery Olumide Olowo, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, Captain Olatokunbo Abiodun Adesina, Akogun Banji Ojo, the Europe Coordinator, OPU and all union’s Coordinators in Europe.
The style, branding stunts, packaging and mobilisation for the event adopted by members of OPU in Paris commanded the presence of other members of the union from Holland, Britain, Austria, Spain, USA, South-Africa who stormed Paris in their different cultural costumes which accentuated the rich cultural heritage of Oduduwa siblings.
On ground were array of Yoruba musicians from all over Europe who entertained guests. Prayers were offered to God in accordance with the tradition of OPC, which always gives glory to the creator of heaven and earth in the three dominant religions, which traversed the land of Oduduwa, Islamic, Christianity and traditional religious.
If the Paris inauguration of OPC was a success, the spreading of the Yoruba cultural Risorgimento in the North Cyprus by Otunba Adams was not only instructive but an achievement of great means not only to the Yoruba race but to Nigeria and Africa in general.
On ground were array of Yoruba musicians from all over Europe who entertained guests. Prayers were offered to God in accordance with the tradition of OPC, which always gives glory to the creator of heaven and earth in the three dominant religions, which traversed the land of Oduduwa, Islamic, Christianity and traditional religious.
If the Paris inauguration of OPC was a success, the spreading of the Yoruba cultural Risorgimento in the North Cyprus by Otunba Adams was not only instructive but an achievement of great means not only to the Yoruba race but to Nigeria and Africa in general.
Right from the Arcan Airport, the OPU delegates made of Oba Olanipekun, Prince Aladeloye, OPU, France Coordinator, Mr Mate Abayomi Abiodun and two other journalists were received with warmth and hospitality at a grand reception organised by members of Egbe Omo Oduduwa led by Mr Oluwasegun Okoya George on December 8, 2014.
The reception at the airport was grandeur, befitting and historical in the city as the delegates also played host to multitude of media practitioners who had useful interaction with Oba Olanipekun and the coordinator of OPU France on their mission in North Cyprus.
“We are in this country on the invitation of the over 900 strong Yoruba students under the aegis of Egbe Omo Oduduwa, first to witness the first ever ANKARA Festival with the theme “Exploring Our Cultural Heritage For Excellence and to prepare ground for the official inauguration of Oodua Progressive Union, OPU,” Oba Olanipekun responded
After the media parley, the OPU delegates left the airport in a long convoy to the university Guest House where the executive members of Egbe Omo Oduduwa held a pre- event meeting with the delegates as Oba Olanipekun commended the association for focus.
The President of Egbe Omo Oduduwa, Eastern Mediterranean University, (EMU), North Cyprus, Mr Okoya George informed the delegates’ about the preparation and eagerness of the school’ authority to have a meeting with them.
