Cultural advocates have stressed the need to constantly examine ways of harnessing the intellectual foundation of an Indigenous genre of music, ‘Ijala,’ in developing societies.
They observed this during a lecture celebrating the 2022 Ijala Are-Ode Cultural Festival in Akanran, Ibadan, titled ‘Ijala: Beyond Social Gyration to Intellectual Exposition of Yoruba Cultural Heritage’.
According to a release signed and made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Friday by the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, embracing Yoruba culture should be everybody’s responsibility.
Olatubosun, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Oye Oyedele, stated that a home-grown method of teaching the coming generation of Yoruba culture is the only way Yorubas can occupy their rightful place in the comity of nations.
He added that for the Yoruba race to conquer the world, they must appreciate who they are, learn the things of the race, and behave honestly like Yoruba.
A Professor of Legal History, Akinkunmi Alao, said there was a need to go back to the basics, look beyond the social gyrations derived from Ijala by hunters, and find ways to deploy the intellectual foundation of Ijala in Yoruba cultural heritage.
Alao enjoined historians to constantly research Yoruba cultural values that can benefit society.
The don noted that although the immediate purpose of any traditional music performance is to entertain, the genre of music could influence the renaissance of Yoruba culture and traditions.
He encouraged Africans, especially the Yorubas, to embrace and leverage indigenous technology to develop human society.
“We need to go back to the basics. He said, ” go beyond just the gyrations of individuals, amusing themselves, to unearth the intellectual premise of this rich cultural tradition.”
Speaking on what led to hunters’ celebration of Ijala in those days, Alao noted that the political class’s neglect allowed the hunters to chant Ijala to celebrate their contributions to society.
Alao applauded hunters’ efforts to maintain peace within the boundaries of their society and admonished the political class to stop diminishing their importance immediately.
“The nature of their profession takes them away from domestic politics. They are always engaged in warfare and deep forest hunting and so many other activities outside the immediate precinct of the established kingdoms.
“So many times, they are not on the ground to participate in the political process, so the political class diminished their importance,” he observed.
“But they resorted to Ijala to celebrate themselves, to call attention to their importance and to let people know they have contributed a lot to the development of the society,” he said.
Alao, who chided the political class for refusing to recognise hunters’ small efforts, commended the Oyo State Government for partnering with the Ona-Ara Development Forum in celebrating the Ijala are-ode cultural renaissance.
“Rather than denouncing our hunters, we must encourage them to use their knowledge towards the development of human society positively,” he noted.
Alao stated that the festival would provide opportunities for hunters, showcase their talents, and highlight the significance of the hunters’ guild.
He further projected that the festival would have been internationalised in the next five years.
The don said that the organisers would draw the world’s attention to Ijala’s intellectual premise in the coming years, hoping the guild would have assumed new relevance in Yoruba society by then.
Also speaking at the event, the Araba Awo of Osogbo, Chief Yemi Elebuibon, urged Africans to develop their culture, observing that it is a must to “first appreciate who they are, where they are, and what they are”.
The election also warned the Yorubas against jettisoning Ifa science and technology, adding that if care is not taken, people of the Yoruba tribe will soon be paying the Europeans for Ifa divination in no distant future.
Speaking earlier, Chief Dipo Gbenro, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Ijala Are-Ode Cultural Festival, noted that the Ona Ara Development Forum seeks to develop Ona-Ara.
He also revealed that the forefathers of all Ona-Ara indigenes were hunters and warriors who played pivotal roles in the ‘Agbekoya war’.
He said Ijala is an expositor of intellectual content, which spells history and family lineage.
“Ijala explores and exposes the inadequacies of our leaders, promotes social relations and is rich with powerful words,” he said.
Guests at the events included Maye Olubadan, Chief Lekan Alabi; Publisher Alaroye Newspaper, Adedayo Alao; Chief Bayo Oyero; Chief Diti Oladapo; Chairman, Ona-Ara Local Government Area, Musbaudeen Sanusi Shaba; Alakanran of Akanran, Chief Yekini Ogunlabi Obisesan, among others.
