Day Oyo Alaafin in Diaspora discovered root, explored their ancestral Home
By Bode Durojaiye, the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo.
Our ancestral home serves as a bridge that connects us to our heritage, providing a glimpse into the lives and experiences of our ancestors. The place where our roots lie holds immense significance, as it embodies the essence of our cultural identity and holds the key to unravelling the stories of generations past.
Visiting one’s home country of origin is a great way to celebrate and appreciate our heritage. When you visit the place where your ancestors lived and worked, you can learn more about the culture, history, and traditions that have shaped our identity.
Whether one is looking to explore the old-world charm of Europe or discover the vibrant music and cuisine of Britain, traveling to your home country of origin is sure to be an incredibly rewarding experience.
Exploring your home country allows you to take in breathtaking sights and sounds. You may have the chance to visit ancient historical monuments, or perhaps see wild animals that are native to the area. In addition, if you’re lucky enough to stay with locals, you can gain insight into their customs, including how they prepare meals, interact with each other, or celebrate special occasions.
Against this background, and in a display of deep cultural reverence and royal solidarity, a high-profile delegation from the Oyo Alaafin in
Diaspora recently paid a courtesy visit to His Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade 1, the Alaafin of Oyo..
The visit served as both a gesture of allegiance to the revered throne and a prelude to the monarch’s 50th birthday celebration, a golden milestone in a life devoted to exemplary leadership, cultural stewardship, and the advancement of the Oyo Kingdom.
The delegation was led by Dr. Ademola Adeleke, Vice-Chairman of Oyo Alaafin in Diaspora.
He was accompanied by his wife, Barrister Dr. Olubunmi Adeleke, their daughter Ayomide Adeleke, and Pastor Tolulope Ojoawo, the Welfare and Educational
Development Coordinator of the diaspora body and visionary leader of the “Oyo lo kan 2027″ movement.
Speaking on behalf of Princess Alhaja Bilikisu Salvage, Chairperson of Oyo Alaafin in Diaspora, and the Global Oyo Community, Dr. Adeleke expressed profound gratitude for the warm reception extended by the Alaafin and his wife, Ayaba
Abiwunmi Owoade.
According to him, “”our mission was to convey the unwavering loyalty and goodwill of the Oyo Diaspora family while celebrating a Monarch whose reign has brought immense pride and recognition to the Oyo Kingdom.
“Kabiyesi’s leadership marked by wisdom, discipline, and quiet yet transformative impact has elevated Oyo Alaafin as a beacon of cultural excellence and administrative brilliance.”
Dr. Adeleke further remarked tha, “” the strength of a kingdom lies not in the grandeur of its palace but in the wisdom and heart of its king.
“Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade embodies this truth, a ruler whose soul radiates dignity, compassion, and an unyielding commitment to his people.”.
Also speaking, Pastor Tolulope Ojoawo, a prominent Advocate for Youth Empowerment and Cultural Revitalization, lauded the Alaafin’s dedication to education, community development, and the preservation of Yoruba heritage.
As the driving force behind the ‘Oyo lo kan 2027″ initiative, Pastor Ojoawo emphasized the importance of visionary leadership, a hallmark of Oba Owoade’s
reign.
The delegation offered royal prayers for the Alaafin’s longevity, divine protection, and enduring reign, while also interceding for the prosperity of the Oyo Kingdom, the unity of Yorubaland, and the continued progress of Nigeria under
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
In his response, Oba Owoade, who was elated with the visit said “” we see the Yoruba in the diaspora, as it is popularly called, to be the Yoruba that will greatly guide and influence the Yoruba in the ancient homeland, who for the most part are tending to move away from a sense of preservation of their own culture and tradition, particularly religion”.
He observed that it is time Yoruba at home and in Diaspora start partnering
for synergy.
According to him, “without doubt, we can find strength in unity . This has become imperative so that whenever our brothers and sisters in Diaspora come home, they won’t be complainers about how things are not working, but rather, they would see themselves as partners and partakers in the overall development for a better future of their home land.
Said he. “” partnership is a voluntary collaborative
agreement between two or more parties in which all participants agree to
work together to achieve a common purpose’’.
Partnerships, he explained, share interest, concerns and create visions for
the future.
‘’In this technology-driven age, when the whole world has virtually dissolved into a global village, meaningfully partnering is a foundation for success. This is because such collaboration enables continuous improvement which is created when it doesn’t seem possible to solve a problem or address the situation by just one group – due to magnitude, lack of knowledge or vague nature of the issue at stake; or when the cost of solving a problem or addressing an issue gets too costly for one group to tackle’’.
In an enterprise therefore, the Titan of Yorubaland pointed out that the best partnerships are those (either formal or informal) that have an organization or a structure with shared vision, mission and goals, involving people for maximum utilization of emerging and existing
technologies.
“n this regard, the kind of partnering one envisages between the Yoruba at
home and in Diaspora is the type that will provide necessary developmental
planks such as intellectual, technological, communication and marketing plans for the homeland that is urgent for modern transformation. This is with a view that such an alliance will produce results that will benefit all group and process members””, Alaafin asserted.
The visit was concluded with cultural exchanges, mutual blessings, and a reaffirmed pledge from the Diaspora Community to uphold and amplify the legacy of the Oyo throne.
Oyo Alaafin in Diaspora is a global network of Oyo Federal Constituency descendants living abroad, committed to homeland development, preserving
Yoruba heritage, and strengthening ties with the ancestral homeland.