Living up to one of his avowed promises to do everything humanly possible to sustain the cultural heritage and traditional history of the Yoruba race, the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has pledged to assist, strengthen, bolster, reinforce and augment the effort of Princess Foluke Temiloluwa Ogunlowo, who is planting the biggest private arts and cultural village in Atosin, Idanre, Ondo State.
Ooni Ogunwusi made his intention known at Enuwa Palace, in Ile-Ife, Osun State, while hosting the cultural delegation from Foluke African Centre for Arts and Culture, Atosin, led by the American-based, Atosin-Idanre-born promoter of African culture and tradition, Princess Ogunlowo, daughter of Oba Gilbert Olawanle Ogunlowo, the Atosin of Atosin-Idanre.
Princess Ogunlowo’s team, which consist of a cultural troupe, a dancing band and a theatre company, each of which performed to the satisfaction of the Ooni, disclosed that members of her delegation were drawn from Youth In Focus Initiative, YIFI, a non-governmental organization, NGO, which she formed to purposely offer a platform for youth interaction for culture education, sustainable empowerment, job creation and networking, talents hunt, educational advancement and vocational upliftment, planted and has offices in 26 states of Nigeria; and with over two million members.
Princess Ogunlowo said that her commitment to uplifting, protecting, preserving and showcasing African arts, culture and values, with the belief that arts, culture and values in Africa stem from ile- Ife; is what she cannot just explain
She told the Ooni, ”Kabiyesi, I must confess that I can not explain the forces propelling and fanning the embers of Yoruba cultural rejuvenation in me right from my youth. I just have this constant feeling, ever-present in me, that I should consecrate myself to promoting the pristine culture, values, history, heritage and morals of the Yoruba race. That I should create a village there in Ife-Oke, the stead of Olofin, where this generation and generation yet unborn will be able to authenticate their forefathers’ cultural and traditional glorious past.”
She added, “Kabiyesi, I have watched, probed, analysed and profiled your utterances, acts, deeds, body language, and analysed your mission par vision since your enthronment, and I summed up that Oduduwa Atewonro has come back to resuscitate the dying, comatose traditional identity and the values that distinguished the Yoruba from other races and make them who they are.”
Princess Ogunlowo said that the Ooni’s strides at revamping the culture, tradition and art sectors of Yorubaland have served as a motivator and inspirational spell on some of them.
She further enthused, ”Kabiyesi, in no distance time, I will be here to warmly invite you to the inauguration of the Foluke African Centre for Arts and Culture, Atosin, Idanre, Ondo State. It is a cultural community, which will house a museum of Yoruba cultural items, values and heritage and a cultural commune, which will be Yoruba in concept, presentation and taste.”
Ooni Ogunwusi, who was visibly impressed, posed some questions to Princess Ogunlowo, who responded brilliantly and culturally to each question asked by the Kabiyesi.
Extremely satisfied with the activities and cultural roles being played by Princess Ogunlowo, Ooni Ogunwusi prayed earnestly for her and assured her of his unlimited support.
Kabiyesi said, “I am profoundly happy with you. And I am sure the founder of the Yoruba race, whose
culture they bequeathed upon us, which you are adding value to will add bumper value to you in all of your endeavours. Bountiful fortunes, unlimited favour, and doors of wealth will open for you. And let me assure you that in me you have gotten a father, a propeller of your vision, a financier and an agrarian supporter of your passion.
“I am ready to commit as much to the place as it will be a worthy trans-generational cultural project. Count on me and I will be there for you.”
