The hornet’s nest of arts and culture community was recently stirred when Nigeria’s former number one citizen, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, called for the preservation of Africa’s cultural heritage at the 50th birthday gig of Aralola Olamuyiwa, the female drummer.

Stressing the importance of culture, the former Nigerian president enjoined Africans to jealously guard their cultures so that they will not erode the African identity.

Lamenting how many African cultures are being consigned to the background in the name of embracing western culture, the former Head of State noted that “culture is the totality of who we are,” adding, “some of our cultures, including food, language, cloth, among others, have been pushed to the background to the extent that local languages are now seen or referred to as vernaculars within various countries.”


Affirming his belief in the Christian faith, he said Nigerians and other African countries should work to reverse the ugly situation. He disclosed that whosoever says Orunmila, the Orisha of Wisdom, knowledge, and Divination, is the creator of Ifá and Babalawo concept, is nothing should be regarded as a bloody fool.

Although, this is not the first time the elder statesman is making this call; during the days of apartheid in South Africa, he urged traditional leaders in that country and other African leaders to invoke their various gods against those behind the oppressive economic and political system in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa, whether the call was responded to then, leaves much to be desired.

Now, he is renewing the call in response to the high level of disorder and wanton crimes that are alien to us, which our various cultures though to have put in check had the adherents of these cultures being in full control of the society.

Responding to the renewed call, Dr. Ajokpa-Ogene Omo of Black and Proud Message Group, Benin, Edo State, noted that the African elder statesman calls is rhetorical in the sense that during his regime as a civilian President, he advertently removed history from primary and secondary school curriculums and paid lips services to the arts and culture sector to the extent that Nigeria has no definite cultural policy, as could be seen in other countries of the world.


https://guardian.ng/art/strengthening-strategies-deepening-stakeholders-mobilisation-for-protection-of-cultural-heritage/