Ooni, Alafin, Others Extols Ogun Govt For Preserving Cultural Heritage

Traditional rulers across the country have showered encomium on Ogun State government and expressed satisfaction over the cultural importance and values, the African Drum festival would impact on the people in the African continent.
The Monarchs, who converged at the June 12 Cultural Centre for the third edition of the Drum Festival, agreed that culture has a way of developing and improving the socio-economic potentials of the country.
According to Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the festival has become part of him since its inception because of its potentials to open doors for economic development.
“Throughout the world, Ogun State is known for developing and promoting cultural heritage and as you can see, the Drum Festival has gone beyond Nigeria and even Africa. There are troupes from other parts of the continent. So therefore, I thank God for making Ogun State a pioneer and fore-runner of the festival.” Ogunwusi said.
In his remark, the Alafin of Oyo,  Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, highlighted the importance of Drums in modern society, saying the instruments are philosophical and goes beyond dancing, as the Yoruba fore-fathers used them to communicate, entertain and even pass message during  wars.
Also speaking at the event, the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Bassey Ekpo, expressed delight for witnessing the festival, appealing to other state governors and particularly, traditional rulers, to give attention to their cultural values before it goes into extinction, pledging to ensure that his State was fully represented in subsequent editions.
“The joy of this is that I have seen something different from what we used to have in our Yam Festival in Calabar and other cultural festivals in the country. I will continue to preach this so that it will raise the awareness of Africans”, the Monarch said.
Speaking on behalf of Traditional rulers in the State, Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, expressed satisfaction over the socio-economic importance the Drum Festival has brought to Ogun State, saying Senator Ibikunle Amosun led administration has indeed position the state in the global map.