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| Femi Tade |
In celebration
of World’s Culture Day 2013 and a way of promoting culture in Nigeria, the
Royal Star Entertainment Production (ROSEP), recently organised cultural
awareness event and also honoured some individuals who have carried outstanding
performances towards promotion of Nigerian and African culture.
The event,
which took place on June 1, 2013, at National Library, Yaba, Lagos, kicked off
around 3.pm.
One of the
speakers, Chief Mrs. Are Abeni Taiwo urged Nigerians to embrace their culture.
The Yeye of
Shasha Kingdom narrated how she went to a pastor for prayers and he asked her to
be praying while he went to his altar to intercede for her. After waiting for
about 15 minutes, she peeped through the pastor’s window and saw him consulting
Ifa (Yoruba deity), she marvelled and went home. Few days later, the pastor
called her and asked her why she did not continue with the prayer and she told
him that she too now consults Ifa to receive answer to prayers.
According to
her, “The best philosophy is Ifa’s theology. So let’s look inward and preserve
our culture and tradition,” she said.
Also speaking,
Chief Tunde Giwa, the Alagbale 111 of Lagos said he travelled to the United
Kingdom and found out that most whites don’t go to church. “I also travelled to
Mecca and saw what was going on there, compared it with what we are doing here
and made up my mind on how I would serve God. In Nigeria, they will stone you
if you tie wrapper, knot it on the left and enter a mosque, but that is how they
tie it in Mecca. Let’s go back to our root and follow our culture. The Asians
did not allow the west to impose their religion on them. We are too religious
in Africa but not spiritual, that is our problem.”
In her
contribution, culture activist and business woman, Chief Mrs. Kemi Patt
stressed that parents should advise their children to imbibe their culture in
their dressing, eating, and behaviour. She cited an example of a rebellious
child who don’t like African attire but put another cloth inside her bag to
change immediately she left home.
When it was the
turn of the organiser, Femi Tade to appear on the podium, he was ushered in with
a traditional music. After dancing for some minutes, the choreographer, singer
and drummer said culture is the way of life of people so it is difficult for a
human being to live without it.
The
ROSEP leader stressed further that “Our culture and traditions must be
respected and promoted for a better society. Many youths no longer show respect
to their elders, which is wrong. Let’s go back to our roots and learn the way
of life.”
Other
highlights that featured in the event are performance by a cultural music
group, Adunni & Nifretiti and dirge by some Yoruba culture adherents.
Many people
were honoured with various categories of awards including Mrs. Ada Dike of
Daily Newswatch who was given an award in recognition of her positive
administrative and technical contribution to the development of Nigerian Arts
and Culture. Other awards recipients are Adunni & Nefretiti and Chief Mrs,
Kemi Pratt, among others.
While
expressing appreciation for the award, the leader of Adunni & Nefretiti,
Adunni, said “It is not all about the religious aspect of culture and
tradition, culture also consists of the way we talk, eat, dress, behave and
respect elders. We cannot abandon our culture so we must promote it for
posterity sake.”
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