Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Oyeditan Olanite (Akanku IV), has described the demise of Pa Adebayo Faleti, a giant colossus in the Nigerian literary family an irreplaceable loss to the Yorubaland and her culture.
Oba Olanite, in a release he personally signed and made available to journalists, described Pa Faleti as a cultural icon whose achievements and inestimable contributions to the society should be emulated by all the Yoruba sons and daughters, home and abroad.
Until his departure, the Onimeko said, Pa Faleti excellently explored all the media available to him to promote the Yoruba culture, heritage and language.
While expressing concern about the gradual disappearance of the Yoruba culture and language exponents without replacement and the looming extinction of Yoruba cultural heritage, the monarch called for the imortalisation of the man of great erudition.
Oba Benjamin Oyeditan Olanite then charged all traditional leaders and rulers in the Yorubaland to go the extra mile to propel replacement of the great Yoruba culture and language exponents, while urging governors of Yoruba states to ensure strict promotion of Yoruba language in schools in the Yorubaland.
He also encouraged parents to encourage their children to speak Yoruba language, which he described as rich.
“It is high time we replicate the great Yoruba culture and language exponents who protected the cultural heritage for us to tap into so as to also protect the rich heritage for future generation.
“It is disturbing when you hear some parents warning their children from speaking Yoruba language. Pa Adebayo Faleti, despite his ability to fluently speak English and French languages, extensively promoted Yoruba language,” Oba Olanite said.
The Onimeko of Imeko, while praying for the repose of the soul of Pa Adebayo Faleti, prayed that God should grant the family members he left behind the courage to bear the irreparable loss, and also, raise more men and women to fill the vacuum created by the demise of the poet, actor, playwright, film editor, journalist, author, teacher and proficient literary artist.
