Àtélẹwọ́, a Yoruba cultural advocacy group, on Saturday, held an award ceremony to celebrate winners of the first edition of the ‘Atelewo Prize for Yoruba Literature’.
The award ceremony, which was part of a series of programmes to celebrate this year’s International mother language day, was held at the University of Ibadan on Saturday.
Mr. Mustapha Sherif, for his entry titled ‘Orin Ewì Akọdan’ was announced winner of the competition which was open to previously unpublished writers working in Yorùbá language in all genres, (including poetry, drama and prose).
He was awarded N50,000 cash prize, an award plaque and book prizes.
Other shortlisted individuals, who received book prizes and plaques at the event, include: Ṣeun Adéjàre, for his manuscript ‘T’ẹníkú Ló gbé’; Amos Ọlátúnjí Pópóọlá for his manuscript’ Akínkanjú Ọdẹ Nínú Igbó Àmọ̀tẹ́kùn’ ; Sodiq Lawal for his manuscript ‘Koówè Ń Ké’ and Agboọlá Àyàndìran for his manuscript ‘Ó Já Sọ́pẹ́’.
In separate remarks, the judges of the competition — Professor Àrìnpé Adéjùmọ̀, a former H.O.D Linguistics and African Languages, University of Ibadan; Odòlayé Àrẹ̀mù, writer and Public Intellectual on Facebook and Professor Adélékè Adéẹ̀kọ́, Interim Chair, Department of African American & African Studies, The Ohio State University — commended the organizers and or the entries for their level of originality.
“The talents, and knowledge displayed in all the original works are astounding. Matter of
fact, I am not choosing one because it may be the best but because it’s close to being
the most original of the entries,” Odolaye Aremu wrote in a general review of entries for the competition.
Similarly, Prof. Adejumo noted that all the shortlisted entries were of “great quality”. She, however, urged the participants, especially poets, to avoid diverting from the central theme of their works.
Speaking further, the UI don, who was full of praises for the organizers, maintained that the programme gives credence to her stand that the Yoruba culture will always be recognized and relevant globally.
“I commend the organisers of Atelewo. You are doing a great job; a great job because you are committed to celebrating the culture and traditions of Yorubaland. On a lot of occasions, people say Yoruba culture will die but I always say this ‘Yoruba culture won’t die’. Atelewo is one of the reasons why our cultures and traditions won’t die,” she said.
Prof. Adejumo, who was also a guest speaker at the event, charged parents to prioritize teaching their wards Yoruba language and culture, which she noted is “as important as the language itself.”
Meanwhile, veteran Nollywood actor, Musiliu Dasofunjo, says the Yoruba culture will be truly celebrated only when every individual becomes independent.
“If we truly want to celebrate our culture and traditions, we must be independent. It is the absence of this that makes us lack regard for our language. This is mainly caused by the foreign religion that we have embraced,” the actor, who was a guest speaker at the event, said.
He also maintained that any writer who aims to have a successful career in Yoruba language must be ready to use the ‘pure’ Yoruba dialect.
Egbe Atelewo was founded by Oredola Ibrahim and Razak Malik Gbolahan in June 2017 to respond to the many challenges and threats facing the preservation and survival of the Yorùbá culture and language
The group aims to create a platform to document cultural values, drive dialogues among the youth and preserve Yoruba culture and literature.
