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The Obalodo of Oye Kingdom, Chief Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, has underscored the importance of Yoruba Culture and tradition in shaping society.
He attributed the collapse of societal values to the neglect of the Yoruba Culture and tradition.
Addressing journalists during the opening ceremony of the annual Ode festival held on Sunday in Oye-Ekiti, Chief Oguntoyinbo urged the youths to embrace culture and traditions.
Chief Oguntoyinbo disclosed that part of his mandate as Obalodo is to ensure cultural revival in the Oye Kingdom.
He explained that during the Ode festival, the Obalodo and the Ejio group will dance around the old Oye Kingdom, visit the Oloye palace to make sacrifices and prayers for the peace and development of the community.
Obalodo said sucha ceremony has gone into extinction because of civilization.
He noted that the Ode festival does not involve human sacrifice or any bloodshed, but a ceremony to promote culture, traditions, and to educate the people about their origin.
“I want to appeal to our youths and all indigenes of Oye Kingdom to embrace the culture and traditions of Oye Kingdom.
“The culture and traditions of the community are indeed beginning to go into extinction, but I will try as much as possible to restore them.
” The Ode festival that we are celebrating is what I, Obalodo of Oye Kingdom, must carry out to ensure that the peace and unity of our community are protected.
“Culture is important, Ode festival is a tradition we must protect jealously, and that is why since I mounted the throne as Obalodo, I have been bringing my people together in a bid to revive our culture.
” A lot of youths have never seen the Obalodo in full regalia during the festival because of the lies that some people have been spreading against the ceremony to scare the youths.
” It is because our people have neglected their culture and traditions; this is why it is easy for hoodlums to kidnap and kill a traditional Oba because he does not believe in the traditions of his community,” he said.
Chief Oguntoyinbo, however, appealed to the State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, to support the traditions and culture of Oye Kingdom.
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