Funke Adesiyan, special assistant to wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Buhari, has commended the Oyomesi (Oyo kingmakers) for giving departed Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo, what she described a burial, befitting Sango, one of the late monarch of the ancient town.
The celebrated actress and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State, in a statement made available to OYOINSIGHT.COM, explained that a nation that isn’t proud of her identity is a failed nation.
Saying that she is a a Muslim by religion, she noted that she is very proud of Yoruba Olokun and Okebadan culture and tradition.
This newspaper recalls that the revered monarch died late last Friday night and was interred the second day.
“I have spent these last few days,” the Ibadan-born actress explained, “reflecting on the future of the Yoruba race and truth be told, it is very worrying.
“Our culture and tradition is almost gone into extinction. We have allowed religion to overshadow who we are. There’s almost nothing left for the future generations to know about who they are.
It is very dangerous to allow “wokeness” rob us of our heritage. The western world we so aim to mirror does not forget her identity at her core. A nation that isn’t proud of her identity is a failed nation. Our people are no longer proud of their identity for fear of being tagged “uncivilized or fetish.”
“Being African is neither fetish nor uncivilized.
“There’s an urgent need for the Yoruba elders and leaders to have a referendum aimed at re-educating and redocumenting our culture and tradition before it is too late. The misrepresentation of Africa by her people needs to stop. The place of religion, culture and tradition in the life of a man must be clearly stated.
“The new trend of Royal burial amongst the Yoruba is becoming unbecoming. It is not only embarassing, it is disrespectful and leaves a very bitter taste in the gut.
”Our religious leaders have no business rushing to the burial site of a Monarch. It is not their place. Allow the people the departed monarchs represent take charge and determine how they wish to present their dead. A departed monarch is a state property and as well the traditional institution they represent.
”There are very clear guidelines of burial for a Yoruba monarch and all that. Please let us stop these disgraceful act with Iku Baba Yeye.
”I must state how proud I am of the Oyomesis by giving Atanda a burial befitting of Sango himself. Egbe a gbe yin. Please endeavor to do the rest of the rites of passage. Kabiesi Lamidi Adeyemi was culture personified and deserves every honor given.”
