Oba Oyediran Calls for Cultural Revival at First World Headdress Day in Ibadan
The Onpetu of Ijeruland, Oba Sunday Oyèdìran and members of the Initiative, including Mrs Oluwatoyin Malik who is the Crime Editor, Nigerian Tribune and Saheed Alatise of Noble FM, Ibadan
The Onpetu of Ijeruland, Oba Sunday Oyediran, has called on the government and indigenes of Oyo State to uphold the state’s slogan, “The Pace Setter,” by championing the promotion of Yorùbá culture and traditions.
The monarch made this appeal during the inaugural World Headdress Day celebration held on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at the Single Tennis Court, Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
Speaking at the event, Ọba Oyediran highlighted the richness of Yoruba culture and its potential to inspire pride among its people and beyond. “Yorùbá culture and tradition are beautiful enough for us to be proud of. Let us go back to it and promote it to the world,” he said. He urged Oyo State to take the lead in promoting culture across Nigeria.
The event, organized by the Ọmọ Yoruba Atata Socio-cultural Initiative (ỌYÀSI), founded by Olawale Ajao, brought together cultural enthusiasts, government representatives, and notable personalities to celebrate the significance of headdresses in Yorùbá and global cultures.
In his goodwill message, the Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Ọlatunbọsun, who represented Governor Seyi Makinde, pledged the government’s support for the initiative. He noted the economic and cultural benefits the annual celebration could bring to Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole. “Yorubas, including people of other cultures, should make use of their natural endowments to benefit themselves and the world,” he said.
A world-renowned Islamic preacher, Sheikh Taofeeq Akeugbagold, in his lecture, emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence despite religious differences. He stated, “Islam is a religion of peace, and Allah deliberately allows all religions to exist. For God to permit diversity, He definitely has His reasons.” He further urged Nigerians, especially Yorùbá people, to embrace their culture, warning that abandoning one’s traditions invites calamity.
Similarly, Dr. Samuel Kayode Olaleye from the Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan, underscored the multifaceted importance of headdresses in Yorubaland. Represented by Taiwo Fatosin Awosola, Dr. Olaleye explained that beyond mere adornment, Yorùbá headdresses hold spiritual, social, and even medical significance.
He said, “In Yorùbáland, if a pregnant woman has difficulty during labor, placing her husband’s cap on her head can help her deliver without medical intervention. This practice can inspire scientific innovation to aid childbirth globally.”
He also highlighted the potential of headdresses in other areas, including their development into tools for modern warfare.
In his address, the convener of the World Headdress Day and ỌYÀSI Chairman, Olawale Ajao, elaborated on the significance of headdresses in Yorùbá culture. He announced plans to spotlight the importance of headdresses in other cultures in subsequent editions.
Ajao also appealed to UNESCO to officially recognize the celebration and designate a global day for headdresses, emphasizing their cultural and historical importance across diverse ethnic groups.
Distinguished Personalities Grace the Event
The event was chaired by Mrs. Deborah Adefunke Awoyale, CEO of Deborah Adefunke Nigeria Ltd. Other notable attendees included Mrs. Taiwo Adedayo, Managing Director of Alaroye Newspapers and Online TV; Mr. Bola Ogunlayi, former Secretary of Oyo State Council of NUJ; Alhaja Iswat Ameringun, the Iyalọja of Ìbádánland; and Ambassadors Taiwo and Kehinde Oguntoye, Africa’s most famous twins.
Cultural groups, including Ẹgbẹ́ Ọbìnrin Ọòduà Àgbáyé led by Erelu Ajibola Adewumi, and other dignitaries, lent their presence to the colorful celebration, which highlighted Yorùbáland’s vibrant cultural heritage.
The event concluded with renewed calls for cultural preservation and a commitment to making World Headdress Day a globally recognized celebration.