To regain her pride of place among the comity of nations, Nigeria must begin to consciously protect and project its rich cultural and traditional practices.
Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, made the call on Monday at the 2025 Wealth Festival (Odun Aje) held in Orile-Agege in Lagos.
Iba Adams, while establishing a linkage between the cultural revolution of the Asian nations and their economic breakthrough, said Nigeria must take a cue and stop allowing religious beliefs and practices relegate age-long practices of our culture and tradition as a people to the background.
“Most of the Asian nations protected and projected their culture and tradition. They did not allow the practice of religion to discountenance their strong culture and traditions. And today, they are better for it. The truth is that the practice of religion, and culture and tradition should go hand-in-hand,” he said.
Speaking on the essence of the Wealth Festival (Odun Aje), which is organised annually under the auspices of the Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF), Iba Adams noted that by understanding and participating in the festival, participants were appreciating the rich cultural heritage and the enduring significance of the traditions of the Yoruba people.
Adams also established the festival’s spiritual significance, highlighting its deep spiritual meaning and the connection between the material and spiritual worlds.
“As we celebrate the festival today, we are promoting our cultural identity, aligning with the spirit of wealth and at the same time seeking abundant blessings and wealth from the spiritual realm,” he said.
He stressed that the primary focus of the Aje Festival was to seek blessings for wealth and economic success, adding, “It is our belief that honouring the Aje deity brings prosperity to our businesses and financial ventures.”
“I must let you know that the more we celebrate the spirits behind Aje, the more they will pour wealth unto our land and make our people prosper. This is one of the strategic secrets of the Asians that they do not discountenance.
“Up till sometime in the 1970s, economies of most Asian countries were worse than that of Nigeria. But when they began their cultural revolution, protecting their identity, their culture and tradition, and projecting them to the world, the result is that the world has taken notice of them.
“For instance, there is hardly any nation in the world that does not have trade and commerce relations with China, among other notable Asian countries. In fact, many nations of the world not only trade with China, they also borrow money from China,” he added.
On the importance of preserving our identity as a nation, Iba Adams made reference to how the Asian countries were being proud of their culture, tradition and identity, and tasked the Yoruba race and indeed Nigeria to learn from their example.
He contended that it was the way to go, if we must preserve our heritage, and more importantly, if we must truly prosper as a people and as a nation.
“Away from China, another good example of preservation of culture and identity was seen in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Saudi Arabia when President Donald Trump paid state visits to those countries.
“We saw how the beauty of their culture and traditional dressing was well represented and projected through the various attires adorned by hordes of men, girls and ladies lined up as part of the welcome entourage for President Trump.
“It is saddening that if it was in Nigeria that people adorned in traditional hunters’ attire, which is part of our rich culture, were included in the welcome entourage of a visiting President, the elite may have described it as a showcase of illiteracy or backwardness.
“Our elite must stop associating the rich culture and traditional practices we inherited with backwardness or illiteracy,” Adams said.
He noted that the lesson for Nigeria in that experience was the need to always be proud of our identity and always be proud and ready to showcase our culture to the world at every opportunity.
Adams expressed delight at how well the idea of the Wealth Festival has been accepted across Southwest Nigeria and other places where the Yoruba people exist globally since the Olokun Festival Foundation pioneered its annual celebration in 2013.
This year’s festival featured prayer sessions and parades by the aje bearing maids. It brought together people from different walks of life, fostering a sense of community among attendees who travelled from far and wide to attend.
With fuji artiste, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, as the main music act, it also featured traditional music and dance. This is just as there were lots of economic activities, with people showcasing local crafts, food, and other products.
Dignitaries at the event included His Royal Majesty (HRM), Oba Hakeem Agbedeyi, Alaige of Orile-Agege; HRM Oba Adewale Ogunronbi, Onishasha of Shasha Kingdom; HRM Oba Akeem Eweobaja, Alaguda of Aguda; HRM Oba Adewale Amodemaja, Onimapara of Mapara Kingdom, HRM Oba Adeshoga Williams, Alagbado of Orile Agbado, and HRM Oba Mudashiru Atanda, Onishaga of Ishaga-Abosude, among other chiefs.
