Soyinka Seeks Liberation Of Nigerians From Cultural Enslavement

As Nigeria joined the international community to mark the World Heritage Day (WHD), Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has frowned on cultural imperialism holding  Nigerians down and called on the people to do away with what he described as “cultural enslavement.”

Addressing the 2026 WHD held at the Tropicana Event Centre (TEC), Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Prof Soyinka, expressed regret that those factors constituting traditional norms and values that determine a people have been relegated to the background, and called for their reinvention for national identity.

Soyinka, the keynote speaker, therefore, urged the people to “do away with cultural enslavement,” wondering the place of the national heritage, especially in a situation whereby people do not understand common art works which signify the culture of the people.

“People should be allowed to freely exhibit, express and celebrate their culture and traditions,” describing it as the totality of man.

Governor Umo Eno, represented by his deputy, Dr. Akon Eyakenyi, expressed the readiness of Akwa Ibom to play big in the global tourism market, inviting people all over the world to come, live, invest, and thrive in the state.

Speaking on the theme; “Akwa Ibom’s Heritage Alive,” the governor, maintained that “Akwa Ibom’s heritage is indeed alive through songs, folklores, music, as well as the rich and nationally celebrated cuisines such as afang soup, edikang ikong, afia efere, ekpang nkukwo, among others.”

“Our heritage is alive, felt, and experienced daily across the length and breadth of our nation and indeed internationally”, Governor Eno noted.

He said  that Akwa Ibom heritage continues to deepen and expand with flair, and flourish from the hospitable nature of her people, the deep humanity expressed daily, especially in the manner which visitors are welcomed to the state, to her rich cultural practices such as abang, abre, ntok adio adio, ekpo masquerades, among others.

Highlighting further the rich cultural heritage of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Eno explained that every year, during the Yuletide, all the 31 local government areas would compete by “showcasing their rich heritage through dances, cultural displays, and cuisines that are peculiar to them.”

He recalled that last year, over five million people across the nation attended the event, which usually begins on December 1 and ends on December 31, expressing optimism that more people would be attracted to this year’s edition.

Explaining his vision for the tourism sector, the governor stressed that his administration was passionately dedicated to harnessing these rich and varied cultural blessings of the state, in order to make tourism a key element of the Akwa Ibom identity.

He listed some projects and infrastructures, including the rich network of economically viable roads, a thriving and nationally celebrated airline – Ibom Air, investments in the maritime and blue economy in Oron, the ARISE Palm Resort, the International Conference Centre, Ibom Hotels, ARISE Shopping Centre and Ibom International Hospital with 350-bed hospital complete with 24 departments.

“The State has all it takes to attract and host the World,” he enthused.

The commissioner for culture and tourism, Dr. Anieti Udofia, appreciated Governor Eno, for his love and support for the culture and tourism sub – sector describing ,him as a tourism – friendly Governor.

Dr. Udofia, explained that the objective of the World Heritage Day celebration “is to highlight the urgent need to protect both cultural and natural heritage, especially in times of conflict and disaster, which is in line with the global theme; ‘Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters.'”