How Ologundudu promoted, preserved Yoruba culture

Written by Olaoluwa Mimiola Wednesday, 23 June 2010

ShareIn an effort to positively preserve and promote the heritage of the Yoruba people from going into extinction for future generations to see,  appreciate and pass on for posterity, an American-based Nigeria culturist, environmentalist and author, Chief Dayo  Ologundudu, has produced a Yoruba cultural revival on book, DVD and CD, titled The Cradle of Yoruba Culture.

The book, DVD and CD which were presented to the public at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, recently, was a cultural compendium and refresher manual to the elderly ones and an exposition for the young at heart to behold and explore. It covers a broader scope of the endangered Yoruba cultural norms, values and rich traditional songs and dances.

The event attracted an assemblage of prominent promoters of the Yoruba culture. They include the Alaye of Odogbolu, Oba Adedeji Onagoruwa; Chairman, Association of Nigeria Authors, Ibadan chapter, Alhaji Akin Bello; the Are Latosa, Arole Mabinuori Adegboyega; Prince Tunde Odunlade; Prince Ayoade Aderemi; Prince Bowofade Aderemi; Prince Ojoola Aderemi; Dr. Adekola, senior research fellow and lecturer of Anthropology from the University of Ibadan, among others.

Speaking during the presentation of the information materials, the Alaiye of Odogbolu, Oba Onagoruwa, lauded the effort of Chief Ologundudu at putting into a retrival form, an aspect of the of Yoruba culture to avail the younger generations the pride of their heritage.

The monarch, who believed in the superiority of the Yoruba heritage when compared to other cultures of the world, said that the book and other electronic materials on the cradle of the Yoruba culture are essential tools for every household. This, according to him, was instrumental to the learning and mastering of the basis of the cultural norms and values.

For Prince Tunde Odunlade, an international promoter of the Yoruba culture, who spoke with deep sense of candour, called on Yoruba elders to retrace their steps by embracing geniune and practical ways of passing the undiluted cultural norms and values gained from their forebearers and oral custodians of our heritage to new generation, to create a path for the generations unborn.

“With the trend of being equal, Chinese will be the global language of business in another 10 years to come. So what is necessaary to change a person is to change the awareness of himself. Therefore, we should learn to appreciate what is ours. It is a fact that everything may not be perfect, but at least we should sieve and revive it.

Prince Odunlade, however commended Ologundudu’s firm belief, passion and resonance in the promotion of Nigeria culture and heritage in the diaspora, throughout his 30 years of sojourn in the US.

Ologundudu ascribed patriotism, ingenuity, passion and love for the reality of the Yoruba rich culture which is fading away by the day to what geared him to venture into the project of cultural rebirth.

“Our heritage must not be allowed to go with the wind of westernisation, in the name of civilisation. Any society that loses its cultural norms and values definitely loses its identity, and a society without an identity becomes an outcast, which makes one as bad as being dead,” Ologundudu said.

He further said that to make a generational change in the cultural rebirth process, the family unit plays a paramount role in making it a reality by encouraging their household to religiously make cultural norms at home a routine while the speaking of Yoruba should be prominent at home.

“The white men are now passionately learning, speaking and even wanting to teach us our language. If an alien to Yoruba Language and culture are proud of what originally was foreign to them, then that tells you that Yoruba culture and language are unique and must be jealously protected from going into extinction. So, we should start seeing what we have as genuine with international pride and value.”

“These were the reasons behind my contribution through the book, Cradle of the Yoruba Culture and the Folk’s Songs and Dances on DVD and CD to assist and encourage household’s social and educational gatherings.”