Yoruba cultural-tourism experience awaits all at Ife Grand Resorts —Reuben Abib

In the ancient city of Ile–Ife, the undisputed cradle of Yoruba race, the source of civilization and beginning of the world where the day breaks, the moon berths and where the elementals that hold the world keep vigil,   there lies a great and wonderful enclave of rest and leisure culturally sculptured by the Ooni on the throne, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi,   christened Ife Grand Resorts and Leisure.

Ife Grand Resorts and Leisure sits  on over 350 hectares of land, that harbours the jungle, the forest, the streams, the ancient trees, exotic flora and fauna of near extinction, the birds, the various ants and reptiles that are Yoruba in nature. The Ooni has sequestered out a quantum of a land mass which is being transformed into an oasis of luxury for the promotion and showcasing of pure Yoruba cultural–tourism heritage, not for this generation only, but for also generation yet unborn.

According to Reuben Abib, The General Manager, Ife Grand resorts and Leisure, Ile–Ife, Osun State, “the luxurious resort planted by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi is a well thought-out concept methodically planned and formed majorly for the promotion and showcasing of the pristine Yoruba cultural- tourism hospitality heritage.”

The Canadian who has garnered intercontinental experience in resort tending and management and took Sun Beach Hotel Resorts in The Gambia from low to high rating, said: ‘‘Ife Grand Resorts and Leisure is one of the finest contemporary initiatives that is set to accentuate the glorious cultural tourism assets of the Yoruba race by an enigmatic creature who by divine antecedent, right, calling and heritage is the king of Yoruba race today, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.’’

Reuben, who said the Ooni plucked him from Canada to tend the resorts based on his experience in such ventures, in Africa, the Caribbean and Europe disclosed: “This Resort is an enclave of Africanism based on the core cultural values of the Yoruba race which has been credited of having the most robust sense of hospitality in the world.”

He pointed out that “ Ife Grand Resorts and Leisure is set on the basis of amplifying   the beauty in African nature via injection of local contents in, building,  designing, decoration, customer relations, greeting and interaction.”

Reuben revealed: “Ife Grand Resorts is constructed with the mindset of offering the best Afro-Yoruba experience to whoever steps in here. It is a blissful cultural-tourism enclave where the Yoruba or the typical African in the diaspora can consummate the wholeness of being a Yoruba in diaspora or being an African in the diaspora. Here you feel the Yoruba culture, you experience Yoruba value and you live Yoruba in a Yoruba setting on the first soil of creation. You emotionally and physically experience all those feelings you have missed for being away from the soil”

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Exposing the facilities, he said “Apart from the vision of the resorts which is rooted in Yoruba cultural tourism concept of hospitality, the facilities here, right from the cloth which covers the chair, to the table at the front desk, to the doors and decks, all are of local contents. This is to showcase the value in our products.”

‘‘We have over 150 rooms wound together in apartment of a typical Yoruba setting of compound which promotes togetherness and harmony. Eighty-five of these rooms are sellable and being used, others are still being touched and touched. They are set in the most luxurious and splendid facilities, beddings, pillow cases,  lamp stand, light, conveniences, tea sets, toiletries and other necessities,” Reuben added.

He revealed that ‘the totality of Ife Grand Resorts and Leisure is to ensure a robust experience interaction between a visitor and pristine Yoruba values, culture norms and way of life.”

“We have formed a synergy  with the Obafemi Awolowo University  Cultural Group which will be on  hand  to stoke the consciousness of the visitors about the Yoruba history, dances, culture and norms via cultural display and acts,” he said

He revealed that “the kitchen is not only of  Yoruba foods, but of essentials, of those rare Yoruba meals- ekuru, egbo, alapa, kati, akara agbado, akara, dodo, moinmoin elemi meje-, with different soups that are autonomous to Yoruba. We have the indigenous cooks while there are chefs too who cater for the intercontinental and inter-regional menus.”

“We are setting everything cultural – tourism up here for your consummation of a blissful romance and experience with Yoruba culture. The African village will soon be ready where the beauty of Africa by Africans will be showcased.  A visit to Ife Grand Resorts and Leisure is an experience in Africanism and Yoruba values. You are welcome,” the canadian added.