Alaafin raises the alarm over threat to Yoruba tradition, culture

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has decried serious threats to the religious foundation of Yoruba traditions and culture posed by those he described as “guest faiths in Africa’’.
He lamented that the parlous socio-economic conditions in Africa, a creation of neo-liberal economic policies, have continued to impoverish many African states.
Oba Adeyemi stated this while addressing thousands of residents who converged in his palace after a motorcade procession to commence the Oranyan festival.
The paramount ruler said it was highly ridiculous and unwelcomed to refer to such belief as being fetish and worshipping idols.
“Every culture has an explanation for the creation of the Universe. Yoruba traditional beliefs see the world as a product of two connected worlds; the visible world of material life and the invisible spiritual world. The connection of these two worlds produces power that is called ASE in Yoruba cosmology. For the Yoruba, the Creator rules over the entire universe manifesting the elements of nature. These indigenous beliefs and practices are a life philosophy and natural science; we see the relationship of man with nature and universe. Revealing the ways in which humans can be in harmony with the energies of nature and the universe. It is the basis for understanding the beginning and end of life.’’
Alaafin noted that all the elements of the visible world are symbolised as Orisa in the invisible world., using the instance of Sango, which he said the energy symbolised by light as a major element in creating the universe.
With the belief of re-incarnation, Oba Adeyemi argued that each of the Orisa after their ascendance soon revisited the earth with evidence.
Said he: “Our traditional religion is part of our heritage, which needs to be preserved and recognised. The frontal attack on Yoruba religious, socio-cultural and spiritual traditions must be resisted and confronted with spiritual force. Humanity forbids me to be indifferent to the hundreds of lives perishing daily. The whole Yoruba race is a gift from God to me and hence every loss of life even to an untimely birth is a loss to the Alaafin. Today, Alaafin is duty bound to stand for and defend every Oyo soul either on the continent of Africa or in the Diaspora in a globalised world.’’
Lamenting on how the Yoruba ancestors were acculturated before the era of European enslavement which dislocated brothers and sisters to an unknown abode, Alaafin recalled crucial part of history when Yoruba communities were raided off, families dismembered and kingship ties broken.
“Yoruba culture is the most spread and most surviving everywhere in the post-colonial time due to our strong spirituality in Orisa and the efficacy of our indigenousness’’.
Oba Adeyemi, who is also the Permanent Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, therefore, called for unity among Yoruba communities across the globe to reclaim every lost ground.
“What is paramount is to join forces, resist the demonisation of our faith and consider offence against one as offence against all of us. The solidarity of all Yoruba is essential so as to ensure that the legacies of our forefathers are not condemned to the dustbin of history’’.