Traditional music, folk songs loud as Yoruba Lakotun marks anniversary

Traditional music, folk songs loud as Yoruba Lakotun marks anniversary 

by Prisca Sam-Duru

The Ethnic Heritage Centre, Ikoyi Lagos came alive penultimate week as the Yoruba Lakotun, the quarterly cultural flagship programme, celebrated its first anniversary amidst pomp and pageantry. It was a celebration that colourfully showcased some of the Yoruba cultural heritage especially the talking drum and the beaded gourd (sekere). The local instruments were utilised because of their significance as royal musical instruments that elicit excitement at all celebrations. Also, Edaoto Agbeniyi, the renowned guitarist and folklorist, was on the bandstand dishing out melodious folk songs to the delight of the audience.

The anniversary celebration also doubled as a event to revive the Yoruba oral narrations which according to culture activists, has been largely distorted.

 

Renowned author of Egun Ori Ikunle Pa Lasunkanmi Tela who was special guest at the programme, decried the manner in which Yoruba oral narration has been distorted by a huge number of people due to their selfish reasons. He disclosed that some of the distorted narrations brought about by colonialism and individuals for selfish reasons are Yoruba history, traditions and even the culture.

“The Yoruba nation should be united since we are all progenitors of Oduduwa. It is unnecessary for people to tweak histories of their communities in order to pursue their selfish ambition because it would mislead a lot of generations after them and bring about hatred. The damage done by the colonialist still abound in the ways in which names of communities and families have been changed to suit their understanding.” He said.

Tela called for the preservation of various Yoruba traditions which are gradually fading away. These traditions include building reputable family names cum legacies; respect for elders; background check of the families before marriage; the dignity of hard work and contentment.

Another great feature of the evening was the Bata dance class led by Khalid Ayanshina, the renowned Eesa Egungun chanter and dancer, from Oyo town. Ayanshina pointed out that Yoruba oral chant is a specialist art that is different from one type of chant to another. Some of the specialist chants are ekun Iyawo; Rara; Ijala among others.

The host of the event, Olutayo Irantiola, dedicated the anniversary edition to the media houses that educate and inform Nigerians about the different cultures in the country. He encouraged the media to carry out investigative research to produce ingenious documentaries that would enhance the knowledge of Nigerians about their immediate environment.

Cultural enthusiasts at the event were drawn from Corporate and Social Nigeria.