On Saturday, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, said that Africans no longer needed the help of outsiders.
The concluding session of the international conference on Ile-Ife and Yoruba Civilization was where Oba Ogunwusi made his comments.
He insisted that no Yoruba, at home or abroad, could deny the continued importance of Ile-Ife as the cultural and spiritual center of the Yoruba people.
“Africans will continue to rely on foreigners to tell our stories without real history,” he remarked.
The Ooni urged all native Yoruba people to help historians investigate Ife’s past thoroughly so that appropriate precautions could be taken.
Tradition and modernity are not mutually exclusive, according to Prof. Olutayo Adesina, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Ibadan (UI).
Adesina added, “We have a lot to learn from history and use to develop knowledge and employment for the inhabitants of the country, for all to grasp how to integrate tradition and contemporary together.
“The traditional rulers are the custodians of traditions, culture and values, and they are aware that there are lots of benefits derived from what we have.
We shouldn’t leave the country because we have so much to offer, not just in terms of minerals but also in terms of cultural riches that enrich our community.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate