By Staff Reporter
All roads led to Arcadia in Pretoria on Saturday 2 September 2023 as the biggest and the most glamorous cultural celebration gathering of the people of Yoruba extraction living in South Africa – AYIDSA Heritage Day 2023, was held with the air of festivity and colour at Pretoria Faith Community Hall in Pretoria, South Africa.
This year’s event, with the theme – “Remittance: A tool for development in Nigeria” – makes it the 5th edition since it was first held in 2017. The event featured activities such as music, traditional dance, ewi rendition, Moremi drama, cuisine of the Yoruba people, and many other activities that showcased the tapestry of the rich Yoruba heritage.
The event was indeed a confirmation of the Yoruba adage that says: “ká rìn ká pọ̀, yíyẹ ní ń yẹni.” Meaning that people are best in association with others, and not as loners. This was evident in the way members of the Association of Yorubas in Diaspora South Africa, along with their family members, friends and invited guests from far and near, stepped out in style donning Yoruba traditional attire of different colours and styles to celebrate this year’s Heritage Day event.
AYIDSA Heritage Day 2023 had as the royal father of the day, His Imperial Majesty Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II, The Ooni of Ife) who was duly represented at the event by Kabiyesi Oba Babatunde Adetokunbo Awosunle (The Elejesi of Ejesi-Ife Kingdom) and his entourage. The event was chaired by Professor Sunday Ojo, a former Dean and Professor of Computer Science at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). He is also the executive director of the African Indigenous Language Technology Institute in Pretoria.
We also had in attendance Professor Wale Aregbesola, PhD, of the Department of International Business Management at the University of South Africa as the keynote speaker. Also in attendance was Professor Iyabo Usman, leader of the Nuclear Structure Research Group at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
The event was anchored by the dynamic duo of Oludare Olusan – of the African Portal Radio and Television – and Pastor Segun Adeyemo. From the live band stand was the pulsating beats of one of the foremost South African-based Juju maestro, Yemi Fakiyesi, and his Yemite Band. The renowned Juju musician ceaselessly entertained the audience with his melodious tune throughout the duration of the event.
The President of the Association of Yorubas in Diaspora South Africa, (AYIDSA), Dr Olusola Agbeniyi, in his message described the event as “a display of rich Yoruba heritage and a way of preserving the Yoruba culture for future generations.” This sentiment was shared by all the speakers for the day and as well repeatedly echoed by Kabiyesi Oba Babatunde Adetokunbo Awosunle, who stood in for the Oonirisa, in his goodwill message that attests to his support of the continuous showcasing and promotion of Yoruba’s rich cultural heritage as highlighted by the President of AYIDSA, Dr Olusola Agbeniyi.
The Chairman, AYIDSA Heritage Day 2023 Planning Committee, Engr. Oladele Opaleye, in his appreciation speech to the royal father, invited guests and all AYIDSA members in attendance that he treasured everyone’s contributions. He specially thanked the members of AYIDSA Hall of Paladins for their support roles and all the planning committee members for the successful execution of the event.
On his part, Omooba Adeniyi Patrick, the Acting Secretary of the AYIDSA expressed his unreserved elation regarding the success of the event as he was being interviewed on the red carpet. He stated that the purpose of the subsequent AYIDSA Heritage Day event should not only focus on gathering together the people of Yoruba extraction and their friends from all walks of life, but also for the educational experience that provides insights into Yoruba cultural heritage through the arts, cultural dances, traditional cuisine, Yoruba fashion show and traditional songs. He added: “With AYIDSA yearly Heritage Day celebration, the uniqueness of Yoruba culture and the values we place in Yoruba art, language, music, architecture, history and culture are what we are putting on display for the world to see.”
Without doubt, AYIDSA Heritage Day event is a bridge that allows all Yoruba sons and daughters to come together and celebrate together. It also affords the host community of South Africa, especially the South African spouses of Yoruba men and women, the opportunity to know and learn more about the Yoruba cultural heritage. It is also a platform where unity, peaceful co-existence, and the stewardship of the things that unite us as Africans can be developed.
Here’s the video of the event: