The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has described Nigeria’s cultural heritage as having huge export potential that may gas financial rejuvenation.
Ooni Ogunwusi mentioned this previous weekend in Ile-Ife in the course of the joint celebration of the Alafere, Oya and Ijugbe festivals which attracted an enormous crowd of contributors from inside and out of doors Ile-Ife, particularly the Bariba and Nupe folks within the Niger and Kwara states in Nigeria. .
The foremost African monarch, the religious chief of the Yoruba race, said that the celebration is to provide glory to God Almighty, whom he described within the Yoruba language: “Oba ti a ko ri, ti an ri ise owo e” (the invisible God, however whose affect is at all times felt.
The Ooni puzzled why cultural festivals and heritage are usually not receiving due consideration from the residents of the nation, saying this has affected the expansion of native festivals and tradition within the nation.
He additionally expressed dismay that foreigners had been starting to understand African tradition, mysteries and festivals greater than their authentic custodians.
“Our heritage is so robust. All of the issues we rejoice could also be unusual to many individuals dwelling in Nigeria and Yorubaland, however within the western world, I simply received again from Britain the place I met the British Royal Household and visited the British Museum, they don't . Don't make enjoyable of our tradition. All this stuff are so essential to them. They’ve traced the origins of humanity again to Africa and all these information are on show of their libraries and museums. They imagine within the potential and energy of all these festivals. It’s time for us (Africans) to cherish what now we have.
“We should always rejoice what nature has given us. Our tradition affords very excessive export potential and tourism is likely one of the largest professions on the earth. It's greater than a variety of investments you may consider as a result of there's a variety of motion of individuals. Via tourism, folks can construct a typical heritage and ancestral background,” Ooni mentioned.
He added an attraction to authorities in any respect ranges to enhance the extent of infrastructure, noting that authorities should help the initiative to mission Yoruba tradition to the world.
“It's time we deal with tourism by enhancing our infrastructure and package deal this complete heritage. A lot of the heritage and festivals are very topical and supply advantages.
“The federal government should pay severe consideration to our heritage. We’re blessed right here as a result of our vacationer facilities and sights are pure. We don't must create any type of synthetic tourism. They’re very pure tourism alternatives and that’s the reason we have to showcase them. We hope that in some unspecified time in the future the federal government will admire us,” he added.
The Obalejugbe of the supply, Chief Abiodun Akinrefon, said that worshiping the IJUGBE God of Rain in Ile-Ife would increase the financial system of the neighborhood.
He acknowledged the Ooni of Ife for resuscitating the ignored gods in Ile-Ife, whom the foreigners cherish, saying Obarese (IJUGBE) is the custodian of rain for humanity.
In line with him, when the clergymen went to make choices to Obarese on the Idi-Aje shrine, the rain that had lengthy refused to fall within the historic metropolis instantly began falling.
The Obalejugbe noticed that the Ijugbe competition led to heavy rainfall in Ile-Ife and that failure to rejoice the deity yearly causes shortage of rain resulting in famine on the land whereas smallpox is rampant and demise within the metropolis will trigger.
Additionally talking, Chief Oyarekun Oyaro, the Balogun of Famia who doubles as Oya priest, mentioned the summoned rainfall marked a milestone for the graduation of planting and bountiful harvest.
He urged residents to understand their custom and tradition, including that all of them play an essential position within the lifetime of humanity.
The Oya-Igunnuko/Alafere/Ijugbe competition is a transitional competition to welcome the wet season and all its unwanted side effects resembling rain, wind and thunder.
The competition is definitely meant to showcase the workings of Olodumare to humanity, to bless the soil for a number of harvests and to forestall disasters.
The competition witnessed a heavy downpour with wind and thunder that lasted for 2 hours to sign the beginning of the celebration.
Whereas Ijugbe, often known as Obarese, is the deity of rain, Oya (Igunnuko) and Alafere are the co-deities of wind. All of them belong to the household of ORANFE (Sango) and had been among the many 401 gods of the Yoruba who began humanity.
