Ooni urges stakeholders to protect Yoruba culture from extinction

The Ooni of Ife,

The monarch spoke on Saturday in Lagos at the 3rd festival colloquium of the 50th anniversary of Lagos State with the theme: "Tourism Potential in Yorubaland: Landmarks, Culture and History’’.

Ogunwusi said that culture, tradition and tourism were tools for fostering development, eradicating poverty and emancipating the down trodden in the society.

"Culture and tradition bound us more than religion and it is important that we keep them for our heritage to be known and told.

"Gradually, we are losing the values of these culture and tradition because they have been misconstrued in so many ways.

"Contrary to many assumptions, traditionalists and our fore fathers are not idol worshippers.

"Traditionalists give glory, honour and adoration to God the Almighty which the Yorubas call "Olodumare".

"Olodumare is the Supreme Being and we have the lesser gods who are messengers, Angels of the almighty.

"These facts should be told to our upcoming generation," he said.

The monarch commended the organisers of ``Lagos at 50’’ for bringing culture, traditions and the heritage if the Yorubas alive.

The Ooni said that in spite of its cosmopolitan status, ``Lagos is a custodian of culture and tradition of the Yoruba race.’’

He said that Lagos was founded in the 15th century by a prince of Ile Ife named Olofin Ogunfunminire in company of his wife, Yeyelofin Olomu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a movie titled: "Iwure Olofin" which tells the story of how Lagos was founded was premiered at the event.