UNESCO steps in to protect Yoruba culture

In order to salvage Yoruba cultural heritage that is being threatened with extinction through infiltration of foreign cultures and traditions, the United Nations Education and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has decided to salvage and also raise the bar of black soap production, traditional drums production and calabash carving.

Retired Archbishop of Methodist Church, who is also a prince of Oyo Kingdom, Ayo Ladigbolu, disclosed this on Sunday at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, during the launch of Egbe Agbasaga Ile Yoruba Agbaye, an association whose objective is to revive the moribund Yoruba Language and culture.

The cleric disclosed that UNESCO was worried that Yoruba Language and culture were threatened due to refusal of Yoruba people to preserve and develop the language and culture.

Ladigbolu as well as other people who witnessed the launch like Barristers Lateef Fagbemi and Niyi Akintola, both of whom are Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Aare Mabinuori Latosa, retired Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Bolajoko Adeniji, Alhaji (Imam) Zakkariyau Balogun, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, Dr Tunde Adegbola, High Chief Adebayo Akande, Chief Alabi Ogundepo, Chief Olatunbosun Oladapo, agreed that it was high time the Yoruba nation woke up to the task of embracing its culture and subsequently transmit it to the younger generation.

They urged Yoruba parents all over the globe to speak the language to their children at home in order to preserve it. It was also stressed that there was no collision of any sort between religion and Yoruba culture and that Yoruba people should avoid a situation where white men would come and teach their (Yoruba) children their culture.

President of the association, Chief Yemi Ogunyemi, in his address, told the gathering that the association took it upon itself to revive Yoruba culture and promote the speaking of the language among Yoruba people and their children, so that the Yoruba nation would not lose its rich cultural heritage.

He then solicited the cooperation of all Yorubas across the globe to achieve this feat.