The Olomu of Omupo Kingdom in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Yakub Buari, has reiterated the need to provide adequate security that will ensure preservation of African antiquities and heritage.
Oba Buari said the incessant shipment of African antiquities abroad was eroding the citizens’ identity and dignity.
He also decried the neglect of the nation’s tourism sector by past governments, adding that most of the nation’s cherished culture, tradition and artifacts are fast going into extinction.
He therefore charged the Ministry of Culture and Tourism both at the state and national levels to be alive to their responsibility of ensuring adequate protection for the nation’s cherished antiquities
The Omopu monarch, who made the observation while speaking at an interactive session with newsmen on the sideline of the annual “Oba Igba” Cultural Festival in Omupo, noted that Africans now spend a lot of money in museums abroad just to see artifacts from Africa.
“But the people that brought independence to us knew the importance of these artifacts and took them away and now we are paying huge amount to watch what actually belonged to us in overseas”, he said.
He also harped on the need to orientate and sensitise the citizens to enable them to differentiate between culture and religious beliefs, adding that a lot of the citizens have misconstrued culture with religious beliefs and regarded the latter as fetish.
“That is why you can see adherent of Islamic and Christian doctrine in this part of the society dissociating themselves from culture and traditional engagements.
“Your belief in God does not mean you should forget your culture and I think some of us have realised the importance of this sector, hence the annual ‘Oba Igba Cultural Festival’. Candidly, culture and tradition have the potential to enhance the growth and the socio-economic transformation of our nation, if well harnessed,” the monarch added.
The Olomu said the festival, which dates back to the 1700, was an historical event geared toward remembering the founder of the community, who migrated from Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yorubas.
He further explained that efforts were on top gear at enhancing the profile of the festival to by making it a destination of choice for international and foreign exchange earnings for the country.
According to him, some other side attractions such as novelty wrestling bout with attractive prizes in the form of gifts and scholarship would be added.
He said that revamping and development of the nation’s various cultural heritages, through adequate funding, would assist in diversifying the country’s economy from its current oil dependency.
Each state, towns, villages and localities nationwide, according to him, are endowed with their unique culture and traditions that could attract investment and generate foreign exchange earnings for the country.
Also speaking at the occasion, the National President of Omupo Descendant Union (ODU), Dr. Sola Afolabi, expressed satisfaction with the level the festival had attained and pledged the union’s commitment to sustaining the spirit.
Afolabi appealed to the state government to accord the festival the attention it deserved in projecting the image of the community and state positively to the outside world.
He also used the opportunity to call for more developmental projects in the community and charged the indigenes to remain committed to its growth, progress and development.
The Nigeria News Agency reports that the high point of the festival was the novelty wrestling bout between the Olomu and Chief Elemoso at the community market square amidst singing and drumming
