A prominent Nigerian monarch, Oba Adekunle Oyelude, has urged the government and scholars to take action against traditional rulers who fail to uphold the cultural and traditional values of their communities. The Olowu of Kuta made this call after receiving an award for his contributions to promoting Yoruba culture and tradition at the 14th Toyin Falola International Conference on Africa and the African Diaspora.
Speaking at the ceremony, Oba Oyelude emphasized the importance of traditional rulers respecting and preserving cultural values. He stated, “We are installed culturally, and we don’t have any role articulated by the Chieftaincy Law other than being traditional rulers for the maintenance of tradition and culture.” The monarch also encouraged scholars and cultural custodians to hold monarchs accountable for their roles, saying, “Please help us to fish them out and correct it because of posterity.”
The conference, hosted at Osun State University, brought together renowned scholars and monarchs to discuss the significance of cultural preservation. Oba Oyelude was honored alongside other monarchs, including the Eburu of Iba, Oba Adekunle Adeogun-Okunoye, and the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin. The monarch praised the collaborative cultural project between UNESCO, the University of Texas, and UNIOSUN, describing it as a milestone in promoting African heritage.
Professor Toyin Falola, in his address titled “Culture Matters,” highlighted the importance of cultural preservation, stating that colonizers sought to erase African identity by targeting its culture, language, and religion. He emphasized that culture is a tool for political power and that successful development depends on cultural awareness. The professor warned against the neglect of cultural values, saying, “To lose culture is to lose a part of ourselves. But to protect culture, to invest in it, to learn from it, and to pass it on is an act of survival. It is resistance.”
The Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Prof. Clement Adebooye, commended the organizers of the conference and assured that the university is committed to expanding its cultural research initiatives and strengthening its academic capacity in the humanities. The conference was described as historic, with UNIOSUN being the first Nigerian university to win a UNESCO research grant on culture. The event served as a significant step towards promoting African heritage and cultural preservation, with Oba Oyelude’s call to action emphasizing the need for traditional rulers to uphold cultural values.
