It was another opportunity for traditional leaders and culture enthusiasts, on Thursday, August 17, in Lagos, to make a strong case for African tradition and practice, at a one-day public lecture, organised by the Association of African Tradition of Nigeria and Overseas (AATREN), to mark this year’s edition of the annual Isese Day, in the state.
The annual event, held at the main bowl of the popular Onikan Stadium, Marina, saw traditional rulers, culture enthusiasts and residents of the city, thronged into the stadium as early as 8 o’clock in the morning to be part of the annual public lecture, usually organised by the association, as prelude to Isese Day.
Welcoming members and guests, which comprised individuals from both the private and public sectors of the nation’s economy, to the event, the president of the association and Opemoluwa of Ikate land, High Chief Ifasegun Elegushi who also represented the Onikate of Ikate land, Oba Saheed Elegushi, argued that setting a day aside to celebrate traditional culture and practices had become imperative if Africans were to find a lasting solution to the myriad of challenges facing the continent.
He described the one-day public lecture as an annual ritual, designed by the association, to bring together traditional rulers, traditional believers and adherents of traditional religion, within and outside the state, with the aim of celebrating the Isese Day.
Attributing some of the challenges presently facing the country to the decision of the government and citizens to jettison the tradition and culture of the people, he, however, appealed to stakeholders to give more attention, time and respect to traditional beliefs and practices. While appealing to traditional rulers, other traditional title holders and members of the association to respect traditional institutions, he lamented the situation where some individuals and even ordinary traditional title holders in the state, go about with crowns on their heads, parading themselves as rulers of communities in the state.
He, however, assured of the resolve of the association to fight such anomalies and ensure that perpetrators of such act were brought to book. “We should try and comport ourselves in a way that we don’t bring our tradition and lore to disrepute. A situation where some individuals would go about wearing crowns and calling themselves monarchs will not be tolerated. We have also seen situations where some of these so-called traditional rulers connive with kidnappers. One of such people was recently brought to book through the efforts of the state government and our support. We believe this is bad for the traditional institutions, because as traditional rulers, we are supposed to be the epitome of the people’s traditional beliefs and culture.
“The fact remains that it is not possible to have two traditional rulers in a domain. If you are not made a traditional ruler, and we all know there is always a process to this, do not claim to be one,” he warned.
He further appealed to those involved in the act of staying by the roadside to beg for money, all in the name of tradition, to desist from such act. He stated that the association, in collaboration with the state government, had commenced the process of apprehending such ‘beggars’, as a way of protecting the tradition and culture of the people from being brought to disrepute.
“The action of those people, especially women, dressed in white traditional attires, begging passers-by for money has become an embarrassment to us and the state government. But, unknown to the general public, these people are not our members, they are fake. You can see everybody here wearing white. White simply means purity. It is a way of saying that you can’t belong here with double minds. All those costumes they wear are sold in Mushin. But we will not allow them to bring our tradition to disrepute,” he stated.
Expressing delight at the turnout for the event, a foremost traditional ruler in the state, the Onishasa of Shasha, Oba Nasir Lawal Babatunde, appealed to the state government to give more recognition and encouragement to traditional practices in the state. The monarch argued that one of such official recognitions would be by setting aside a day as a public holiday to commemorate the Isese Day event.
He also appealed to those not duly certified as traditional rulers to desist from parading themselves as one, since such action, he noted, had not enhanced traditional practices in the state, of late.
“It is sad that we still have heads of settlements and other individuals in the state that still go about with beaded crowns, referring to themselves as traditional rulers.
“This is bad for our culture because traditional rulers are supposed to be the custodians of the society’s traditional beliefs and practices. But these ones are not. Traditional rulers wear beaded crowns. People who do otherwise do so at the peril of our tradition,” Oba Babatunde stated.
Delivering a paper at the lecture, the chairman of the event planning committee, Esugbayi Ishola Ojo, stressed the need for proper documentation of the history and tradition of the Yorubas.
Esugbayi, who is also the chairman of the association’s Apapa branch, believed the time had come for individuals, especially those in government, to begin to exhibit righteousness and keep to their words for the society to really move forward.
“It is sad that as a society, we find it very difficult to be true to our words. For instance, we’ve been clamouring for a public holiday for Isese Day in the past few years now, but the government is yet to acquiesce to our request.
“They come to us to seek our support when looking for elective positions, but when they get there, they begin to see all these things that we are doing as fetish. I think it is important that promises are honoured and respected since that is the only way a society can move forward,” he argued.
He however expressed belief that the annual event is increasingly becoming popular among the people, going by the growing number of attendees at every Isese Day event.
“Today’s crowd is unprecedented. You can see that the main bowl of the stadium is almost filled up. In the past we used to have the event at the Lagos State Council of Arts office, but it is obvious that we’ve outgrown that place now,” he stated.
Speaking on behalf of the Lagos State government, a director in the state’s Ministry of Tourism, Mrs. Sarah Odulana, commended the association for engaging in activities which have continued to enhance traditional practices in the country.
While assuring the association of the state government’s support, Odulana disclosed that the state government had already commenced works towards ensuring that the month of August, of every year, is set aside for the celebration of traditional religion.
“We are seriously working on this, and I can assure you that work is ongoing to ensure that August is set aside to enable people celebrate Isese,” she stated.