One of the queens of the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Olori Ademiluyi Ogunwusi, has described Yoruba culture as a harbinger of ethical and moral values.
She however referred to Yoruba talking drums as an instrument to correct societal ills and appreciate God almighty by praising Him with the instrument.
The wife of the referred monarch who made this known a few days ago at the grand finale of the two-day Ayan Agalu festival by the House of Oduduwa in collaboration with Aafin Ilu and the Queen Moremi Initiative in Ile-ife, corrected the impressions of many people that Yoruba festivals are fetish.
According to her, “Ayan Agalu Festival was the patron deity of drumming, especially the talking drum. So we’re here to celebrate the rhythm. The beats of drumming remind us of our ancestors, who worked so hard to ensure that our culture doesn’t go into extinction”.
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Speaking further at the event held at the Ojaja Resort in Ile-Ife, Olori Ogunwusi noted that the festival is aimed at celebrating Ayan Agalu, the deity of the talking drum.
She said, “His Majesty is trying so hard by making sure that these festivals portray in a way that, because a lot of people perceive our festivals as fetish, they are not fetish; we are just honouring those who did the great things. Our Orishas are human beings who did exceptional things.
“And we remember them when we celebrate them; when we do festivals, it’s just to honour them. We don’t worship them, but we remember them and their great deeds. The exceptional things that they did were when they were alive.
“We kicked off the Ayan Agalu festival yesterday at Obafemi Awolowo University in collaboration with the Institute of Cultural Studies, where we had a trainer drumming workshop. We also had some rehearsals at the palace yesterday; we had a drama procession that took place in the palace. We went to Atiba. We went to Idi-Aje, and we went to Oke Itase to pay homage to those who represent the ancient people of old who have done so much in ensuring, preserving, and promoting our culture.”
She also described Yoruba culture and traditions as a necessity that must be embraced by all and sundry in Yoruba kingdom.
Olori Ogunwusi, who charged all Yorubas to always value their culture and traditions which she described as mother of all other cultures in the country, disclosed that Yoruba festivals are not fetish like people perceived them, adding that they are a means of honouring great people.
In his own remark, Prince Adekunle Adeyemi of the House of Oduduwa Foundation also described drums as potential means of revenue,.
He said, “It’s a potential means of revenue; the government should try and invest in things like this and capitalise on the revenue generation aspects of drums.”
