Ogunwusi and the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Sosa.
It was a long planned celebration. For a long time, the Embassy of Cuba in Abuja had had it in mind to cement an age-long relationship between the Blacks in Cuba and the people of Nigeria, more so, people of Oduduwa descent. Penultimate week in Abuja, the ceremony finally took place at the residence of the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Sosa during which the Ooni of Ife, Alayeluwa Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, with the retinue of his chiefs were on hand to be a part of the elaborate show.
It was an occasion during which the National Troupe of Nigeria perfected its dance act with the presentation of Yemoja. The dance-drama was anchored around one of the most powerful and efficacious Yoruba goddesses. Held at the swimming pool side of the Ambassador’s residence, the atmosphere was deliberately created to honour the Ooni and make the presence of Yemoja felt by all.
First of all, Yemoja is a goddess of the river, meant essentially to typify purity and fertility. Her place in Yoruba cosmology hinges on her powerful influence on women who devote their time to her. She is one of the deities daily worshipped by Ife people, particularly those who know her worth. This is why she is known and worshipped in symbolic white apparels and robes.
When the dance was performed by the pool-side not too many guests understood the import. Since Yemoja is identified with the river the dance being done by pool side and for the Ooni was not only to establish its authenticity, but to also demonstrate her efficacy. In one word, the dance went on well; the drums beat to a mad frenzy, while guests sat glued to their seats.
The Ooni was enthralled and thrilled. As the dancers led by Funmi Abe pelted the arena with sonorous songs of adulation to Yemoja, the evening wore on slowly. The dancers were not in a hurry. They had been schooled in a way to let the dance and its import to sink into the fabric of the people.
On a purpose, it was meant to let Cubans, most of whom still keep their Yoruba heritage in Cuba to see the authentic version of the worship pattern they observe in Havana and other parts of Cuba. This was why the drums were placed round the pool, while the female dancers, adorned in glittering white costumes, danced gracefully round the swimming pool. The dance steps were slow and deliberate as the piercing voice of Abe rose and fell into thin air. Her ordered form of praises and chants in honour of Yemoja soon convinced the people that this was not just a mere stage act; it was a show to honour a tradition.
As it is with the customs, she moved gracefully towards the Ooni to pay her respect. As she moved nearer, the tempo of the drums increased to register the message clearer. Thereafter, she bent down to pay her obeisance, her steps wobbled. For a while, what happened to her was seen to be part of the show. But when it became clearer, it was understood that Yemoja had indeed possessed Abe. At the end of the performance, she was led by two of her mates because the powerful hands of Yemoja had taken hold of her. But the Ooni was there to play his fatherly role to douse the situation.
An elated Sosa noted that that was the first time the Embassy would be hosting such large crowd of people. “Let me tell you, in diplomat circle, all of you here now are in Cuba. The arena where we are now is Cuba and so everything we will be doing will be in Cuban tradition… Our people back home recognize Yoruba cultures a lot. We grew up with it and therefore today is not only remarkable, it is historic and memorable.”
He noted that plans have been concluded for the Ooni to pay an official visit to Cuba, just to see, interact and remonstrate with his people in the country. “He will visit places where we have large concentration of Yoruba people in Cuba and some parts of Central America. Here now, I feel part of you people. I am at home and this is what we want our people to feel when the Ooni comes calling. It is good to cement this relationship in order to make the world a better place for all and sundry. Even then, Cuban Yorubas always wish to be reunited with their people here. They do not want to be left out of any scheme to make them visit here often to see where they originally come from,” the Ambassador stated.
The Ooni who was ceremoniously ushered into the venue by his retinue of chiefs who sang his praises and recounted the exploits of his forebears was seen by many as a humble leader of his people. As soon as he entered the venue, he first of all went round to great quests, shook hands with a few and exchanged banters with some. This took time, for he was not to be hurried. In the meantime, traditional drums and music played on on the stage to keep people in the mood. Those who could, shuffled their legs and nodded their heads to the evocative tempo of the drums.
In his response, the Ooni praised Cubans for their resolve to maintain the traditions of their fore fathers even many years on. “Therefore, let us thank the Lord for His goodness to all of us. If we love one another, the world will be a better place for everybody. What we need most is love and tolerance. We are here today because of the grace and love of the Almighty. There is a great need for us in Africa to appreciate one another. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with Africa. All we need is togetherness with good leaders to overcome the world. And the time for that is now.”
DONATE TO SUPPORT SOCCERFEST 2016
The Ooni believes that since Africa occupies great chunk of space in the world, its people have a duty to ensure that peace reigns supreme on the continent. “We are blessed in Africa. African cultures are fast growing and spreading all over the world. In terms of music, fashion, festivals, name it; the word is embracing us. This is the time for us to use culture to permeate the world. We have greater influences to play and that is why our being here today is very significant not only to Cubans, but to us as Nigerians and Africans in order to make the world a lovely place where peace is encouraged by all. So, nothing will stop us until we use culture to get things right not only in Nigeria but in Cuba, in England, in America and so on.”
On why the show was equally important to the National Troupe, Akin Adejuwon, the Director of the Troupe said, “the Ooni is in the forefront of the promotion of tourism, using culture as a platform. He loves to develop tourism and he said he would drive Ife as a global tourism and culture centre in Nigeria. So, this is part of that effort to encourage him to do more. We need to also use Yemoja to stimulate the cultural renaissance of the people. You could see how the people received the performance. The Ifa also originated from Ife and it is being celebrated every year. This is to also give a clarion call to all of these and to redraw attention to them all. Since the Ooni is the repository of Yoruba beliefs, history and traditions, the National Troupe of Nigeria has to be a part of this global call to make tourism resonate in the town.”
In her own response, the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs. Sally Mbanefo reiterated the need for the world to accord Ile-Ife its proper place as a town where culture and tourism interface to give the world the best tourism practice ever. “The Ooni is symbolic of Nigerian cultures. This is why we have chosen to make sure that tourism is duly promoted in Ife. Osun-Osogbo plays vital role in this regard. Now, Ife is the best of them and we need to move fast to capture its whole essences in the cultural history of Nigeria. Tourism cannot thrive if culture is not developed, respected and harnessed. And Ile-Ife is an ideal place for this,” she said.
Present at the occasion were Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Femi Ojudu, Ajayi Boroffice. Others were Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Wole Soyinka, Wale Adeniran, Tai Uko, Mike Omeri and some traditional rulers from far and near.
In the end, the Ooni commended the Troupe for representing Yemoja in a greater light. To him, the dance was a true representation of what the goddess stands for in the history of the people.
http://thenationonlineng.net/
No comments:
Post a Comment