Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo stated on Sunday that anyone who claims that Ifa Orunmila is insignificant must be a complete fool.
Obasanjo emphasized that traditional forms of worship predate the introduction of Christianity and Islam.
While speaking in Abeokuta during the 50th birthday celebration of the renowned female talking drummer Olamuyiwa Aralola, widely known as Ara, at the Green Legacy Hotel and Resort within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the former President underscored the importance of preserving African cultural heritage. He particularly emphasized that the Yoruba people must take active steps to ensure their rich traditions do not fade into obscurity.
Obasanjo, lamenting that many rich African cultures are being relegated in favour of western culture, stressed the importance of safeguarding Yoruba culture as it is authentic.
He said: “Culture is the totality of who we are. Unfortunately, we have relegated some aspects of our culture to the background—our food, our language, our dress, and so on.
“They even say Yoruba is vernacular. That is not right. Yoruba is Yoruba; it is authentic, and we must learn to celebrate what belongs to us because that’s the authentic.
“I am a Christian, and today I attended two church services. However, anyone who dismisses Ifa Orunmila must be a big fool. In fact, I would argue that they are quite foolish, as Orunmila has been a guiding presence long before the arrival of Christianity or Islam. The phrase ‘Ifa Orunmila’ translates to ‘Olorun lo mo eni to ma la,’ meaning ‘It is Heaven that knows who will be saved.'”
He revealed that he chose to honor the female talking drum expert for her status as a cultural icon and ambassador in her own right.
“It is essential to preserve our culture for many reasons. Ara embodies the spirit of this culture; she is our cultural ambassador. Through her efforts, she has elevated our traditions and shattered the longstanding taboos that confined certain practices to men. Not only has she excelled in these areas, but she is also dedicated to mentoring the next generation to ensure her legacy endures. As a child, I would have never imagined a woman engaging in two particular activities: climbing a palm tree and playing the talking drum. Ara has defied these expectations and has done so remarkably well.”
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The former President encouraged young people to emulate the renowned drummer, stating: “Whatever good work you undertake, strive to excel in it, and I will celebrate your achievements. The key takeaway here is that no task is insignificant in any field of human endeavor.”
Speaking earlier, Ara thanked the former president for the honour, saying he did what her parents could not live to do for her.
The renowned drummer from Ondo State shared that she started playing the talking drum at the age of 10, within the royal palace of her father in Ondo.
She strongly encouraged parents to take every possible measure to preserve their culture, emphasizing that her current achievements are a testament to her determination not to let her dreams fade away.
