Historians and Yoruba intelligentsia have said that activism, resistance, and self-determination, throughout Yoruba history, have continued to foster movements for social justice, cultural preservation, and good governance in Yorubaland.
The scholars made this known during the opening ceremony of the three-day seventh edition of the J.A. Atanda Lectures and Conference with the theme ‘Yoruba Activisms’ held on Monday at the Lead City University, Ibadan.
The convener and host of the conference, Professor Toyin Falola, stated that it was a coincidence that the timing and the theme of the conference coincided with the ongoing national protests in the country.
Falola stressed that the conference’s theme was apt, given the large number of participants and papers that will be presented.
“Anywhere we host this conference, we leave a permanent legacy behind. We have the Atanda family here, including the grandchildren. We are planting a new legacy on this campus permanently with the institution of a prize for the best graduating student in the Faculty of Arts,” he said.
The chief host and Vice-Chancellor of Lead City University, Professor Aderemi Adeyemo ─ represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Science and Technology, of the university, Professor Olusola Ladokun ─ stated that the Yoruba history is replete with an array of Yoruba activists who have set their agenda in nationhood and service to humanity.
The vice chancellor further stated that the late Professor J.A. Atanda made significant contributions through copious documentation of the exploits of Yoruba activists who lived before his demise.
He commended Professor Falola for keeping the flames burning after the death of Atanda and also for drawing people’s attention to Yoruba roots through his scholarly activities, which the vice chancellor attributed to the essence of Yoruba activism.
“Through historical consciousness, within the socio-political space in which Yoruba people are allocated, they have employed activism both at colonial and post-colonial periods to demand increasing access for political and economic resources for their kindred through constructive agenda,” he said.
He added that among the core values of Yoruba activism are “respect for human dignity, accommodation of divergent views, peaceful co-existence, and promotion of excellence. These are the high values we hold in high esteem, without compromise, at Lead City University.”
The chairman of the conference’s planning committee, Professor Godwin Oyedokun, while speaking on the importance of Yoruba activism, emphasised that the conference is not merely an academic pursuit ─ rather, it is a call to action.
He revealed that 247 abstracts were received for the conference from about 250 scholars across the humanities, arts, social sciences, and related fields in Nigeria and abroad.
Oyedokun stated that the rich tapestry of Yoruba activism serves as a guiding thread and that by examining the history and evolution of Yoruba activism, they aim to glean invaluable insights that can empower a sustainable cultural future.
“The sub-themes we explore offer a treasure trove of knowledge. We will analyse the role of women in political activism, the influence of religion on political movements, and the power of language and art in shaping protest narratives,” he said.
The keynote speaker, Dr Akin Osuntokun, titled his paper ‘From Max Weber to Urunmila: Ifa in comparative sociology.
He argued that ifa is the index of Yoruba wisdom and cultural excellence. He however noted that ifa is a victim of pre-colonialism which sought to erase the cultural identity of African people.
Osuntokun spoke extensively on Yoruba deities, and how colonial influence and Western religious translations corrupted their essence. He argued that Yoruba gods do not have English names.
A greater part of Osuntokun’s lecture dwelt on how the Yoruba gods influence the destinies of man and society, which can result in continuity or discontinuity of society.
In light of this, he added, “Is this continuity in a potential Yoruba state that is lacking in the Nigerian state.”
He stated that each group in Nigeria has a body of thought that exists in oral tradition, adding, “People should therefore stop seeing Yoruba traditions, customs, beliefs, and spirituality as sinful,” he said.
Editor of Saturday Tribune and Nigerian Tribune columnist, Dr Lasisi Olagunju, the lead paper presenter, titled his paper ‘The fine art of Yoruba activism’.
Olagunju emphasised that every Yoruba person is potentially an activist and that the Yoruba culture is a synonym for activism.
He argued that a Yoruba person with a real Yoruba history and ancestry will approach activism differently from someone who is not: “To the Yoruba, activism is an art; it is not just an art, it is a fine art — a profound product of human activity with meaning and soul.
He stated that the French may espouse the theory of Arts for Art’s sake but with the Yoruba, that is not the case.
“With them, every human activity has a motive, a motivation and a function. A man does not run barefooted on the spikes of stubborn grass of activism just for the sake of running. Only a mad man does that. The Yoruba believes at all times that the one who runs is either pursuing something or something is pursuing them,” he said.
Olagunju stated that in history, Yoruba kings who misbehaved did not escape justice at the hands of their subjects.
“If the government or king is irresponsible, the Yoruba takes them up. They query even the gods. We worship only deities that listen and respond when consulted,” he said.
Earlier, the special guest of honour and Chairman and Pro-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Siyan Oyeweso, in his remarks, touched briefly on the essence of Dr Osuntokun’s lecture and also spoke on Yoruba history and those who contributed to its development.
Oyeweso thanked Professor Falola for assembling Atanda publications into one volume, adding, “Everybody is a historian. If you do not write your own history, someone else will write if it for you.”
Oba Dr Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin, the Orangun of Oke Ila in Osun State, stated that the ifa philosophy and patience are what is needed to develop the next generation, develop Yorubaland, and solve the crisis in the polity.
“Live is too short and transient. Nigerian and Yoruba elite need to sit and build a better society. Let us use our time well,” he said.
Two of the presenters, Dr Kehinde Oyetimi and Dr Rita Okonoboh were, among others, from the University of Ibadan.
Dr Oyetimi, who presented a paper on ‘Lyrics of liberation: Voicing the marginalised in Orlando Owoh’s verbal activism’, explored the convergence between music and activism from a Yoruba standpoint, noting that Owoh’s songs “are deeply intertwined with historical contexts, addressing the lingering effects of colonialism and the socio-political issues that have emerged in its aftermath.”
Dr Okonoboh, who spoke on ‘Comedy as activism in Bolaji Amusan’s Talongbemu series’, examined the peculiarities of comedy and activist stances, noting that “through comedy, entertainment for the Nigerian society can rise beyond the confines of art-for-art sake, and sit well within the ambit of art-for-societal-growth sake.”
A daughter of late Professor J.A. Atanda, Dr Adejoke Fatunde, commended Lead City University and the organisers of the conference and also the participants for sharing their knowledge and work on the theme of the conference.
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