The Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sesan Fagbayi, has expressed concern over the continued promotion of foreign cultures and languages at the expense of Yoruba language and cultural heritage.

Fagbayi, in a statement on Monday, joined other stakeholders to express their worries at the second Solo Photography Exhibition of Mustapha Alogba on Adire Lens, held at the Banquet Hall of the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta

The theme of the exhibition was, “The Adire Heritage: Pathway to Cultural Preservation and Financial Prosperity.”

Represented by the ministry’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs Samuel Olubukonla, the commissioner warned that a neglected culture was at risk of extinction.

“So I am, therefore, visibly worried that borrowed culture is fast eroding Yoruba culture and tradition.

“We all have to do something very fast to stop all of this and let our rich culture and languages occupy a place of pride in all that we do,” he said.

One of the panellists at the exhibition and popular cinematographer, Dr Tunde Kelani, also lamented the fact that children were now required to pass the English Language before gaining admission into the university, with Yoruba language and culture being given less importance.

Kelani highlighted the fact that traditional Yoruba practices, such as daughters kneeling and sons prostrating to greet, were gradually fading away and called for a rethink before it became too late.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, expressed her reservations against the neglect of Yoruba cultural values.

Adeleye said, “We used to dress in traditional attires but that practice is fast going into extinction. We are all guilty of the adoption of borrowed culture. Yoruba culture is rich but we do not appreciate what belongs to us.

“Let us promote our culture. We are fond of speaking the English Language while we discard the Yoruba Language and culture. When you get to China, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria and other parts of the world, they speak their various languages. Here, they would say that without passing the English Language, our children cannot gain admission into the university.”

Also, the founder of SpeakEde, Mrs Bola Yinka-Obebe, said, “Our daughters can no longer kneel while our sons cannot prostrate to greet. This is uncharitable.

“We should rethink and retrace our steps. Yoruba people are rich in culture and we are blessed in commerce. We are hardworking, so we work for survival – we don’t beg.”

In his welcome address, the convener, Mr Mustapha Alogba, stressed the need to introduce cultural training into the secondary school education curriculum.

He stressed the importance of making conscious efforts to preserve the Yoruba culture and tradition and to encourage the upcoming generation.

“As you can see today, the younger generation is not properly carried along in the cultural drive. We need to make conscious efforts to preserve our culture and tradition. The way to go about it is to encourage the upcoming generation.

“I am a legal practitioner, but now I’m an art photographer and cultural art photographer. I promote arts, especially here, and I’m based in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

“The intention behind this is like if you could hear what they’ve been saying so far, the culture is dying, and we the youth have a lot to do.

“Our culture is our heritage, we believe in our culture, that is why it should not die. Our culture should flourish and always be appreciated. When it comes to Egba, you talk about Adire. I’m not Egba-born, but I ended up loving Egba. I came to school here, and I’ve never left Egba.

“Adire can be used as a wedding gown; it can be used as headgear. It can be used as anything. So let’s value our culture and make it livelier and more interesting for us to have,” he said.

At the event were the Odofin of Ilara-Epe Kingdom, Lagos, High Chief (Sir) Olufemi Keshinro; the Registrar, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Z.A. Ajibola; Director of Visual Arts, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ogun State, Mr Emmanuel Ikwe; Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Trade, Mrs Yemisi Dawodu; the largest private art collector in Africa, Yemisi Shyllon, among others.