By RhemDy News
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has called on Yoruba people living overseas to reflect on the significance of home-coming for the purpose of cultural identity and self rediscovery.
Oba Owoade also advocated for studies of Yoruba culture beyond its traditional performance to scholarship
in intellectual foundation of the universal culture.
According to a release by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, on Sunday, Oba Owoade gave the charge on Saturday at the grand finale of the 2026 World Sango Festival held at the ancient Oyo Palace.
He also urged relevant stakeholders to support genuine efforts to promote the study of Sango, the celebration of the festival in his honour and the appropriation of the virtues of leadership demonstrated by Sango.
"In this era of African cultural awakening, the life, leadership, administration and government under Sango as Alaafin here in Oyo should be explored in the strictest academic tradition and the ennobling values intellectualised.
"The life of Alaafin Sango would definitely be an excellent example in leadership, considering the fact that his rule of Oyo was for less than a decade," the paramount ruler noted.
He submitted that the festival gave another opportunity to examine
and conceptualise the entire qualities of Sango as a possible template for efforts in nation-building.
"Sango indeed was at the heart of this expanding world of the Yoruba and competing favourably with other religions to explain spiritual and physical mysteries.
The royal father then called for substantial support to expand the celebration of Sango Festival as part of a grand agenda in cultural tourism and the study of Sango’s leadership and heroic attributes as basis for national orientation.
"We are at a momentous and critical stage in the historical development of our country, when we are looking back, trying to re-define the system of government in order to establish a responsible and responsive government.
"I have no doubt that a thorough study of the knowledge system and society that will produced the archetypal African system here in Oyo will provide that direction we missed in the past," the Alaafin noted.
The royal father enjoined Yoruba in diaspora to immerse themselves
in their religious and traditions for spiritual strengthening, personal fulfilment, global understanding and harmony.
"You should look beyond the challenges of nation-building we are currently facing in Nigeria and concentrate attention on the spiritual significance of your homecoming to rebuild your cultural identity and spiritual self-rediscovery," he charged.
He described Sango as a man of valour, purpose-drivenand master of diplomacy who became king when Oyo was at its formative stage and surrounded by mighty and warlike states like Nupe, Ibariba and Owu.
"His charismatic leadership re-defined the character and pattern of inter-group relations and diplomacy and made Oyo the centre-piece of his foreign relations. His short reign consolidated the position of Oyo as the foremost Guinea Savannah State and also secured the independence and sovereignty of the nascent kingdom," noted.
Alaafin stressed that Sango paid the supreme sacrifice and left Oyo more grandiose, more stable, better administered and more secured than he met the nascent kingdom.
"He was today being remembered as ‘’one of the rare African leaders who became instant success in empire building.
"While great countries celebrate their glorious past, Africans do not give much reverence to theirs due to super-imposition of the two main religions of Islam and Christianity. Unfortunately, preachers of these two religions are known for etching their sermons and creed into the consciousness of Africans’ psyche, which have conditioned our sense of appreciation and thinking. The colonial mentality has blindfolded us and made us to perceive erroneously our invaluable culture and tradition as fetish," he noted.
Oba Owoade regretted that this has resulted in the perception of past heroes and great men of valour and virtues, who should be immortalised, venerated and celebrated.
"Not only that, their deeds, acts and wise sayings were worthy to be compiled, documented, reserved and preserved for generation yet unborn," he stated.
He advised the parents to always teach their wards Yoruba language, saying "research had shown that children that learn Yoruba easily understands other languages".
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