Olukoyi enjoins Govt to revive Yoruba culture and tradition

By Rafiu Agboola

A prominent traditional ruler in Osun State, the Olukoyi of Ikoyi land, Oba Yisau Bantale Oyetunji Otunla, Kodaolu 1, has appealed to government and all the stakeholders in the traditional institutions not to relent in their efforts in reviving and promoting Yoruba culture and tradition.

The Olukoyi made this appeal while addressing the motley crowd during this year annual “Egungun Festival” of the ancient town.

Ọba Otunla said, anything that has to do with Yoruba culture and tradition should not be taking with levity saying, “We have to continue to work towards enhancement and promotion of our culture in the entire Yoruba land”.

The Olukoyi, who said the advantages of the ongoing Egungun festival in the town are enormous said, “There are always solutions to problems such as barrenness, sicknesses and joblessness among others while all bad and untoward things in the community are also washed away”.

Oba Otunla, used the medium to acknowledged and commended  the effort of the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in promoting culture and tradition since he assumed the office, saying, “ the Governor deserved to be commended for its position on the promotion of Yoruba culture and tradition”.

The Olukoyi however, appealed to the residents to see their community as theirs, saying, a hundred years in foreign land is nothing, and they should come home and  support him and his Chiefs in developing the town together above others.

Also in their separate speeches at the festival, the Oosa, Àsalu, Aro and Onju of Ikoyi land, Chief. Yekini Oyewumi, Chief. Abeeb Olaposi Akinola, Chief Oladimeji Oladapo and Azzez Ishola Sanni, theYoruba land has a very rich cultural values which is been considered as one of the best in the world adding that, its tradition, mode of dressing, festivals, moral values and many others  historically deep and meaningful .

“Ikoyi is an ancient town which holds prime place in the history of Yoruba, that is why we gives prominent to all our traditional festivals and we don’t take anything that has to do with culture and tradition with levity “, the traditional Chiefs said.

They however congratulates the Monarch over the annual festival saying Ikoyi land will continue to live in peace and harmony.

The one week long festival is expected to round up on Friday with Eleruku masquerade.