Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized the importance of preserving Yoruba culture, stating that while he is a Christian, he holds Ifa traditions in high regard. Ifa, a system of divination rooted in Yoruba spirituality, is revered as the deity of wisdom and intellectual development.
Speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while hosting renowned female talking drummer Olamuyiwa Aralola, popularly known as Ara, on her 50th birthday, Obasanjo stressed the need to protect African cultural heritage.
“For whatever reason, we must preserve our culture. Ara is a woman of culture, our cultural ambassador. She has lifted our culture and broken the taboo on what was formerly believed to be exclusively for men,” Obasanjo said.
He commended Ara for excelling in a male-dominated craft, stating that women were once forbidden from playing the talking drum or climbing palm trees. “She has not only excelled but is also training young ones to sustain the legacy,” he added.
The former president lamented the decline of indigenous languages, food, and traditions, urging Nigerians not to let their heritage fade away.
“I am a Christian, and I attended two churches today, but that does not mean I should forget my culture. Whoever says Ifa is nothing is a big fool,” he declared.
Obasanjo referenced the Ifa saying, “Olorun lo mo eni to ma la” (meaning “It is heaven that knows who will be saved”), to highlight the deep-rooted wisdom in traditional Yoruba beliefs.
In response, Ara expressed gratitude for the recognition, revealing that she began playing the talking drum at age 10 in her father’s palace in Ondo. She encouraged parents to take an active role in preserving their cultural heritage.
