Alabi, cultural ambassador, assures on continuous promotion of Yoruba tradition

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By Femi SHODUNKE

US: THE Cultural Ambassador of the National Museum in Ile-Ife, Oloye Lekan Alabi, has promised to continue to promote the tradition and culture of Yoruba.

Alabi, who is the Agba Akin Olubadan of Ibadanland, made the pledge in New York, US where he was hosted to a dinner by Ibadan Descendants Union (IDU).

According to him, with God on his side he would not relent in his efforts to showcase the culture of his people to the entire world.

A highly elated Alabi, who while visiting US also attended the launching ceremony of the Association of Bini Women of Honor (ABWOH) in Long Island, urged Nigerians to practice, promote and celebrate their time-honoured culture, particularly mother-tongues, values, foods, dresses, and music, among others

He praised the executive and members of IDU for hosting him, while imploring them to teach and imbue Yoruba valuable tradition and culture in their children and wards.

The Ibadan high chief, who is to chair a two-day cultural festival in Chicago to be hosted by Wole Duro-Ladipo which begins on Friday, September 29, also commended them for their socio-economic programmes, particularly their annual scholarship awards to indigent but brilliant students in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

Earlier, the President of IDU, Alhaji Olawale Olalere, had congratulated Alabi on his appointment as the Cultural Ambassador, while imploring him to strive harder in his promotion of Yoruba tradition and culture.

Olalere stressed that societies that promote their tradition and culture receive not only blessings from God, who created the world and their cultures, but also advance in morality, education and socio-economy, especially tourism, among others.

While also speaking at ABWOH event, Alabi commended the women for showing their ancestral culture.

While speaking on the US trip, Alabi told GatewayMail his experience thus: “In keeping with my solemn pledge to continue to promote our valued tradition and culture, following my appointment and formal investiture as the first Cultural Ambassador of the National Museum, Ile-Ife, I have since increased my cultural tours, campaigns and exhibitions.”

He further explained: “At the ABWOH ceremony, some aspects of the rich Bini culture, such as language, traditional music dance, dresses, hospitality were displayed by the members and guests.”

“I was proud of the emphasis on the need to teach our children our mother-tongues, etiquette, values and others, exhibited at the said ceremony,” the Ibadan high chief joyfully said.

He further said: “I congratulated ABWOH members for their patriotism and promotion of culture, even though they are Bini women professionals working and living in faraway USA.”

“I enjoined other Nigerians abroad to emulate ABWOH in promoting our tradition and culture, wherever they reside or work on the planet,” Alabi, whose appointment last March as the Cultural Ambassador was endorsed by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, and the Elemure of Emure-Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebowale Adebayo, among others, stressed.

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