Centre For Black Culture Celebrates Culture Icon,  Duro Ladipo

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding has set motion in place to celebrate a culture icon and playwright, Duro Ladipo, after forty years of his demise.

Late Duro Ladipo

This was made known during a press conference in Osogbo, as part of activities heralding a week long programme to mark forty years remembrace of the late icon.

The Executive Director of the Centre, Prof Siyan Oyeweso during the press briefing explained that the outstanding legacy of the late culture icon would be enunciated during the programme.

Oyeweso who expressed the Centre’s readiness to immortalize Late Ladipo cultural heritage said the centre was greatly committed to the resuscitation of Duro Ladipo legacy.

According to Prof Oyeweso, “we are working seriously in preserving the legacy left behind by our father who had impacted greatly to protect and promote the value of Yoruba culture.

He added that the playwright, who  spent his whole life in propagating Yoruba culture globally has instilled the consciousness of Yoruba heritage in many people around the world.

He therefore called on the Governors from the Yoruba speaking states to make it a duty to immortalise the sage through   award of  prizes  for the best students of Theater Arts in some of the Universities within the zone.

Echoing a similar views, Prof Rasaki Ojo Bakare who described late Ladipo as embodiment of cultural heritage during his lifetime said efforts were  on the top gear to rekindle the consciousness for stage drama in honour of the late poet.

Prof Bakare hinted that there would be a command performance of Ajagun Nla, which is one of the popular drama the late icon wrote, noting that the play has been upgraded to meet the 21st century standard.

In her remarks, Mrs Duro Ladipo, urged government at all levels  and other stakeholders to join hands in sustaining her late husband’s legacy.

Mrs Ladipo who described her late husband as an ambassador  of Yoruba cultural heritage said there was the need for all and sundry to join hands in promoting good work of the late culture enthusiast.

She bemoaned the rate at which Yoruba heritage is going into extinction, adding that  Yoruba speaking nation must wake from their slumber and work towards reviving the rich culture.

Itemising some of the event to mark the remembrance celebration, one of the daughters of Late Ladipo, Mrs Yetunde DuroLadipo Falade said there would be special cultural advocacy session with Osun house of Assembly, special screening/premiere of Moremi film to Ooni of Ife at the Ooni palace.

Others programmes are launching Duro-Ladipo Foundation and Premiere of Moremi Ajasoro film at the Ooni palace on March 10 while Opening of Art Exhibition, Cultural Canival at Osogbo Township on, Traditional Homage and Prayers at Duro Oladipo tomb all to come up on Sunday Mach 11. Duro Ladipo Memorial Inter schools Theatre completion and Art Exhibition at Centre for Black Culture on Monday March 12,  among others.

The Centre also used the occasion to celebrate the popular yoruba film producer, Tunde Kelani who recently turned 70,  saying  programmes are in the pipeline to mark his birthday.