Ibadan indigenes advocate cultural restoration, plan festival

Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes has stressed the need for Africans to annex their resources towards the restoration of their cultural heritage.

The Chairman, organising committee of the Ibadan Week Festival 2012, Mr. Oluyemisi Adeaga, stated this on Wednesday during the pre-festival briefing held at the Ibadan House.

He said the programme would be held “in a bid to restore the cultural heritage of Ibadanland and to celebrate the efforts of our progenitors”.

The CCII, he explained, organised a weeklong festival to project its cultural heritage and endowment to the world.

Adeaga stated that the need for the Ibadan Week Festival was informed by the fact that all over the world, countries and cities with rich cultural heritage enure they showcase them.

According to him, the practice has contributed immensely to their socio-economic development.

He hinted that the festival, which would hold between the November 15 and 24, would feature carnival, award nite, stage play, football match, musical concert, beauty pageant among others.

President of CCII, Chief Bayo Oyero, explained that the relevance of Ibadanland to Oyo State and the nation as a whole could not be over-emphasised, bearing in mind the position of Ibadan as the capital of the old Western Region.

The city, he said, was known to be home of many firsts, where the first university and Cocoa House, the first tallest building in the country, were built.

Oyero said the festival would start with a royal blessing from the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odugade, whom he described as the custodian of culture and tradition.

The President said, “Of significance is the involvement of our cultural heritage, tradition and custom that would be displayed at the floor of the carnival from the Palace to Mapo Hall ending with a grand rally.”

He expressed optimism that the festival would bring about socio-economic development to the state.

“It is in order to bring on board everybody in Ibadanland that we have contracted Messrs Kingsize Entertainment and Capitech Consulting to market this years festival, to secure maximum cooperation and participation of everyone,” he said.

Culled from Punch