Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized the importance of preserving African cultural heritage, urging that these traditions must not face extinction.
He made the remarks on Sunday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while hosting renowned female talking drummer, Olamuyiwa Aralola, better known as Ara, for her 50th birthday celebration at the Green Legacy Hotel and Resort within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.
During the event, Obasanjo specifically highlighted the need to protect Yoruba culture, describing it as “authentic.”
He explained that the celebration of Ara’s milestone birthday was a deliberate gesture to honor her efforts in preserving the Yoruba cultural heritage, particularly through her mastery of the talking drum, an instrument traditionally associated with men.
Obasanjo spoke about the importance of excelling in one’s chosen field, stressing that people should pursue their passions with dedication. He also emphasized the significance of safeguarding cultural practices, noting that elements such as language, food, and dress are being marginalized. He stressed that Yoruba culture should not be treated as lesser or forgotten, as it is an integral part of identity.
Obasanjo further stated that, despite his Christian faith, he has not forgotten his cultural roots. He pointed out that African religious traditions like Ifa, which predates Christianity and Islam, should be respected and preserved as part of the heritage.
In her response, Ara expressed her gratitude to Obasanjo for the recognition. She shared that she began playing the talking drum at the age of 10 in her father’s palace in Ondo. Ara also emphasized the role of parents in preserving cultural practices, urging them to actively pass down their traditions to future generations.
“For whatever reason, we must preserve our culture, Ara is a woman of culture, she is our cultural ambassador, she has lifted our culture and had broken the taboo on what was formerly believed to be exclusively for male gender. She had not only excelled in this but was already building young ones to preserve her legacy,” he said
“When I was growing up, there are two things that you don’t imagine a woman should do. You cannot see a woman climbing a palm tree. Secondly, you cannot see a woman playing talking drum, Ara had broken the taboo, and she had done it very well.”
The former president said the lesson in what Ara had done is that one must do whatever he or she is doing very well.
“Before now, parents don’t allow their son to play football but today, parents are now begging that their children should be allowed to play football.
“For me if you are a dancer, dance well and if you invite me for celebration, I will come. If you are a footballer and you invite me for celebration, I will come. Whatever you find your hands in doing, do it well.
“We must not joke with our culture. We are being relegated to the background, our language is being relegated, our food, our dress and others. We must not allow it. They are things that are authentic. Yoruba is not vernacular.”
Obasanjo maintained that despite being a Christian, he hasn’t forgotten his culture.
“I am a Christian; I had attended two churches today and that does not mean that I should forget my culture. Whoever says Ifa is nothing, I will say that person is a big fool.
“Before Christianity and Islam, we have Ifa Orunmila meaning Olorun lo mo eni to ma la “It is Heaven that knows who will be saved,” he said.