Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo made a bold statement on Sunday, January 26, asserting that anyone who dismisses the significance of Ifa Orunmila “must be a bl00dy f00l.”
The former President expressed his views during an event in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while hosting renowned female talking drummer, Olamuyiwa Aralola, popularly known as Ara, to celebrate her 50th birthday. The gathering took place at the Green Legacy Hotel and Resort within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
Obasanjo emphasized the importance of preserving African cultural heritage, particularly Yoruba traditions, which he said predate the arrival of Christianity and Islam.
“Culture is the totality of who we are. Unfortunately, we have relegated some aspects of our culture to the background—our food, our language, our dress, and so on.
“They even say Yoruba is vernacular. That is not right. Yoruba is Yoruba; it is authentic, and we must learn to celebrate what belongs to us because that’s the authentic.
“I am a Christian. I have been to two churches today, but whoever says Ifa Orunmila is nothing must be a bloody fool. I will say that person is a big fool because Orunmila has been with us before the advent of Christianity or Islam. Ifa Orunmila means Olorun lo mo eni to ma la—‘It is Heaven that knows who will be saved,’” he said.
Obasanjo also praised Ara, calling her a cultural ambassador and commending her for breaking barriers in a male-dominated field.
“For whatever reason, we must preserve our culture. Ara is a woman of culture; she is our cultural ambassador. She has lifted our culture and broken the taboo surrounding what was once believed to be exclusively for the male gender. She has not only excelled in this but is also nurturing young ones to preserve her legacy.
“When I was growing up, there were two things you would never imagine a woman doing: climbing a palm tree and playing the talking drum. Ara has broken the taboo, and she has done it very well.”
The former President also urged young people to emulate Ara’s commitment to excellence, saying, “Whatever good your hands find to do, do it well, and I will celebrate you. The lesson here is that nothing is unimportant in any area of human endeavour.”
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