The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Animbola Owoade, has stressed the need for the propagation of African culture and tradition, saying culture and tradition are the bearings of every human action and aspiration.
He enjoined Oyo indigenes both at home and in the diaspora to immerse themselves in their religions and traditions for spiritual strengthening, personal fulfilment in life, global understanding and harmony.
The monarch who noted that Nigeria as a country was facing challenges, said, “You should look beyond the challenges of nation-building we are currently facing in Nigeria and concentrate on the spiritual significance of your home-coming to rebuild your cultural identity and spiritual self-rediscovery.”
According to him, a region or nation that does not pay sufficient attention to culture and tradition would certainly not grow, develop and ultimately go into extinction.
He explained that it would be swallowed up within the scheme of things as it would lose its essence and define character that makes it different for others which will drive its growth and development.
Oba Owoade stated that there was the need for the Oyo as a people, “To retain our traditional and cultural identity in the face of the global village, which the world has become as a result of fast-improving technology.
“The colonial mentality has blindfolded us and made us erroneously perceive our invaluable culture and tradition as fetish.
“This has also resulted in the way we picture our invaluable traditional heritage which should be jealously guarded, venerated and celebrated.”
