ALAAFIN SPEAKS ON YORUBA VALUES AND HERITAGE.
Christianity, prominent Yoruba King, the Alaafin of Oyo,
Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, has said.
The Oba whose throne had existed before the two
prominent religions in Yorubaland regretted that both Islam
and Christianity pose a threat to God-given civilization of
the Yoruba people.He said the two religions were imported
to the country and do not in any way indicate they were
superior to Yoruba religion. His comments were monitored
by Irohinoodua.
Oba Adeyemi spoke at the international conference on
Yorubaland and politics since the 19th Century and
beyond, held at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago
Iwoye, Ogun State. It was organized in honour of historian,
the late Prof. Joseph Atanda. The Oba also cautioned
against using religion to divide the harmony of the Yoruba
nation warning that the Yoruba people are historically
guided by their agelong values and culture which decide
their actions and inactions.
Oba Adeyemi said the two religions damage some aspects
of Yoruba culture and traditions which he said has resulted
to serious consequences on the future of Yoruba
indigenous knowledge. He said the two religions negatively
affect some Yoruba values which have assaulted the
people leading to the extinction of family life, pattern of
social relations, family names and praise names.
He said, “Yoruba land is at a critical juncture today more
than ever before. The assault on our culture has assumed
frightening dimensions, coming from the received religions
of Islam and Christianity, especially their puritanical and
pentecostal trends.
“Family life, nature and pattern of social relations,
indigenous social welfarism, family names and praise
names, values and traditions have almost been completely
destroyed by their portrayal as evil, satanic or demonic.
“It is no longer that they represent inferior civilisation as
was the case when the religions just came but that they are
evil, demonic and satanic in all areas.”
The monarch, however, urged all stakeholders in Yoruba
land to revive the dying culture and tradition for the sake of
the present and future generation.
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